Learn a little about us
Blue Rock Wines is a small, family-owned winery nestled in the southern end of the Barossa Valley. A specialist producer of cool climate wines, we produce around 4,000 cases of wine a year.
Blue Rock Wines is 100% family-owned and operated.
All of our wines are sourced and handcrafted from our single vineyard property in southern Barossa Valley.
Our winemaker, Zissis Zachopoulos, puts his passion, knowledge, dedication, and commitment into every bottle.
Our Vineyard
In 1998, three brothers purchased the property in the Barossa Ranges for the purpose of establishing a vineyard. The area has an average annual rainfall of 700 mm and the second-coldest average winter temperature in South Australia.
The average elevation is 450 m above sea level, and most of the vineyard has a northerly aspect. The soils are rich in minerals and organics, which enables us to grow some of the best quality wine grapes in Australia.
Our name comes from Bluerock corner, which borders our vineyard and was the site of a large bluestone mine which supplied stone for many of Adelaide's older buildings.
The Winemaker
In 2001, Zissis, one of the brothers, commenced a viticultural degree at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga via correspondence. Additionally, one of the Barossa's oldest and most respected family-operated wineries offered us a contract to purchase all of the grapes produced by the property during that same year.
In 2004, the viticulture degree undertaken by Zissis was drawing to a close when the university offered, for the first time ever, a double degree in viticulture and wine sciences, which he promptly enrolled in.
He graduated in 2008 with both degrees, the first in Australia to do so.
Our Philosophy
One philosophy we strongly adhere to as grape growers is to always put back into the land what you take out by replacing the nutrients in the soil that were used to grow that year’s crop.
Organic fertilizers are used to improve soil health and maintain soil sustainability. We also utilise integrated pest and disease management and minimum chemical input strategies whenever possible.
Biodiversity is encouraged by the planting of native species trees indigenous to this area.
These tree plantings also help to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce global warming.
Our Wines
Our wines are soft, smooth, and fruit-driven. The cooler growing conditions produce red wines with softer, more rounded tannins, which can be enjoyed younger.
These cooler conditions also allow the grapes to ripen slowly, retaining fuller fruit flavours characteristic to each variety. Careful winemaking techniques and cooler ferments help to retain and preserve these characteristics in our wines.
Please enjoy a bottle or two with friends
Five Star Spirits
Our Gins
The inspiration to call our brand Five Star Spirits comes from the five stars of the Southern Cross (Acrux, Mimosa, Gacrux, Imai and Ginan) which appears in the southern sky every night. Our gins are made from ultra-premium natural grape spirit that is infused with the finest natural botanicals and fresh fruits.
