Obstgarten is the German word for orchard. Kevin, Laurel and Rachel Croucher planted their medium-high density, unirrigated vineyard in Whitlands, King Valley the late 1980s and it is a lovely small vineyard bordered by septuagenarian walnut trees, a small stand of mixed pome fruits and adjacent, the family’s blueberry grove. We wanted to reference the wonderful green fingers and thumbs this family has when it comes to growing just about any fruit or nut, hence orchard seemed right.
The Riesling grown here at 800m altitude is quite high in acidity and late ripening, so we’ve been experimenting with making lower alcohol, residual sugar Rieslings somewhat in the German style. The 2017 Selection RSB, which is especially suitable for cellaring, is a special Geburtswein to commemorate the birth of our first child, Remi.