100% Shiraz. Careful selection of the best fruit from the vineyard, the grapes were gently crushed and underwent a long slow fermentation with extra skin contact. The wine then underwent a malolatic fermentation which was followed by barrel aging, breaking down the tannins and adding a smooth creaminess to this very full and rich Shiraz.

International wine director for Underdog Wine Merchants and head winemaker for Cupcake Vineyards, native Australian Adam Richardson has been making wine professionally for more than a dozen years internationally. Throughout the year, Adam travels to the great wine regions of the world, collaborating with winemakers in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand to craft the Underdog Wine Merchants’ international portfolio of fine wines. Adam launched the Cupcake Vineyards line of wines in 2008. Since then, Adam has used his worldwide wine making experience and relations to add on four new wines, coming from Marlborough New Zealand, Mendoza Argentina, and Yakima Valley Washington. Adam also recently launched his own wine label, Chockstone by A.T. Richardson, which he makes in the cool-climate Grampians region of Australia.

Prior to winemaking, Adam was an aviator in the Royal Australian Navy. But ten years and many glasses of wine later, he jumped ship to begin his second career as a winemaker. When he’s not making wine, he is in the mountains, skiing, climbing, or barreling down ‘single tracks’ on his mountain bike. And at the end of these adventure-filled days, he always relaxes with a glass of wine.