Rockwood Vineyard was planted between 2001 and 2018. An A-Grade Certified Organic and Biodynamic (ACO) vineyard in the higher altitude north-eastern corner of the Watervale subregion, ‘Rockwood’, is viticulturally challenging. In fact, with its hard red rock and variable soils, its geology is very different to the Springvale Vineyard close by.

From the eastern boundary of the property, a very stony section, rated as ‘marginal’ for viticulture, is planted to two different clones of fiano, an Italian variety which Grosset uses exclusively in the making of Apiana.

Some fifty metres to the west is the source of ‘Alea’ (named after the Greek goddess). It’s a narrow (300 metre by 15 rows wide) corridor of hard red rock with a poor orange/red loam for topsoil which Grosset believed would be suitable for growing riesling fruit. The flavour in the first grapes produced reminded Grosset of great European rieslings which were not completely dry. Inspired by this, a more European approach was adopted in the making of the first ‘Alea’.

Eleven rows bordering the shiraz on the western side is a rare riesling clone, ‘Geisenheim 110’ rooted in silty loam over red rock soil. Planted on their own roots (i.e., not grafted), the vines produce smaller berries and bunches and while less fruity, the resultant wine is extraordinarily complex and persistent.

From the west, shiraz (an unusual clone known as ‘Tahbilk’) and the Sicilian-based variety nero d’avola are planted for the production of ‘Nereus’ – eleven rows in total, just enough!