Jemma and Steve met whilst studying Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide, located in the shadows of the Hills they grew up in. Since studying Jemma has pursued a career in viticulture, while Steve has spent his time in the cellars. During the 2018/19 growing season, after returning from doing a harvest in the USA, an opportunity to work with a small parcel of vines in the Piccadilly Valley presented itself, and J & S Fielke began.
The rolling hills which comprise our wine region consists of a wide range of meso-climate. Our goal is to work within vineyards from across the landscape to produce wines which demonstrate this versatility. Dedicated, hands on viticulture paired with calculated, minimal winemaking will allow these sites to fully express their diversity.
The best wines are made with care and attention to detail to the vineyards in which they are made from. Our philosophy is no different - we utilise hand pruning using balanced, ‘soft pruning’ techniques, shoot and bunch thinning, hand weeding and rolling shoots, rather than trimming, all undertaken by us with grapevine health at front of mind.
Minimal winemaking is intervening just enough to get the best out of each parcel of fruit. Wild fermentation, whole bunch and cold soak all impart their own characters as surely as new oak or sulfur additions - the key is to use just enough to frame the fruit rather than dictate it.