Description
Metala Wines
Nurturing some of the oldest vines in Australia requires an innate appreciation for the land and as farmers of a mixed estate, including broad acre and livestock, the six generations have developed a regenerative farming philosophy that has been applied to all aspects, including vineyard management.
The Metala vineyard was established in 1891, when Guy’s Great Great Grandfather arrived from the United Kingdom and together with his son Arthur, planted the first Shiraz and Cabernet vines on the estate. The 14 rows of Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1891 remain the oldest family-owned Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the world.
The Metala name has been an absolute mainstay in the Australian market for the last 70 years. It is both the name of the 131 year old property and vineyard in Langhorne Creek, and the wine brand sourced from these vineyards. The Metala brand has been in the market for the best part of 70 years, vinified by grapes grown on the 5th generation-owned vineyard of the Adams family estate. While the wine has been made by various wineries over the years, it has now been purchased back by Guy Adams and we’re pleased to take this brand out to market again….
Metala brings another brand into our portfolio with a tremendously deep history of success and adoration from many wine lovers, here’s some key points on Metala that really bring that home:
The first vines were planted in 1891 on the Metala property, owned by Englishman William Formby. The plantings were Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon planting remain the oldest family owned Cabernet Sauvignon plantings in the world.
The 1961 Metala Shiraz Cabernet (the icon wine of the portfolio) won the inaugural Jimmy trophy Watson, in 1962. The 2021 vintage that will be the vintage we take to market from the estate at Metala, celebrates 60th anniversary of this major win.
In 1981, at just seventeen-years-old, fifth generation Guy Adams took over the management of the then 2,500 acre mixed farm property.
In the 1980’s, to restore stability to Australian viticulture, the Commonwealth government implemented the historic Vine Pull Scheme. Appreciating his family history and the importance his ancestors played in the building of, not only historic Metala in Langhorne Creek, but also the state of South Australia, Guy refused the financial reward and opted to plant more vines, taking the estate to 300 acres under vine.
Fuelled by the words on the Formby family crest, Semper Fidelis, meaning ‘always faithful’, and with an intrinsic sense of family, a historic vineyard in Langhorne Creek that is considered one of the most consistent wine regions in the country, Guy and his wife Liz, began a two-decade long battle to return Metala to its rightful place. It was in 2022 that the dream became a reality and Metala returned to the family control.
There are thousands of trade customers in the market that have supported the Metala brand over the years.
NOTE: The Metala wines being sold by Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) over the past 5 years (prior to the brand coming back to the family) HAVE NOT been produced with estate fruit from the Metala vineyard. The wines we are taking to market are a return to the wines made from estate fruit on the Metala vineyard.
The Wines
There are three ranges of wines with the workhorse range being the White Label which are the wines that have been present in market regularly. These wines are supported by a super premium range in William Formby and a prestige range in Semper Fidelis, both available in small quantities.
