Every great wine has a story. This one starts at a schoolhouse. Family-owned CW Wines began in 2014, and its Schoolhouse label pays tribute to an original 1888 school site in Coonawarra, where the winery's premium vineyard now stands. The Headmaster Chardonnay brings that spirit to fruit sourced from carefully selected grower vineyards in Padthaway, South Australia's celebrated Chardonnay country.
Part of the Limestone Coast, Padthaway benefits from cooling ocean breezes, plenty of sunshine and distinctive terra rossa soils over limestone. To build complexity, the grapes are harvested at night and gently pressed before fermentation with a Burgundian yeast strain. Most ferments in temperature-controlled stainless steel to preserve freshness, while 15% is fermented in French oak barrels, adding texture and subtle layers of complexity.
Ripe peach, lemon and tropical fruit meet hints of vanilla and toasted oak. Creamy caramel notes add a little indulgence, while a bright citrus lift keeps everything in check. Think sunshine, with a beautifully smooth finish.
Take it beyond the usual seafood pairing. Try roast chicken with preserved lemon and tarragon, sweet-corn risotto with crispy sage or crab cakes with a spicy mango relish.
From humble beginnings in 2014 around the dining table at Norwood’s Queen St, C.W. Wines has become a highly successful family-owned and operated wine business. Our enviable portfolio of Australian wine brands spans the Coonawarra, Limestone Coast, McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley.
