Quintessential Wines Adds to Its Australian Portfolio With South Australia's Paringa

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Apr 26, 2010, 07:03 ET

NAPA, Calif., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Quintessential, the wine import, marketing and sales company based in Napa, CA, has become the exclusive US importer for the Hickinbotham Paringa wines. Paringa is the third Australian winery represented by Quintessential, and joins a prestigious collection of 15 family-owned wineries that are located around the world.

Paringa is based in South Australia's Riverland district with the vineyard abutting Australia's longest river – The Murray River. "The Mighty Murray," as it is often referred to, is part of a river system that spans 2,300 miles.

The Paringa Vineyard is so large proprietor David Hickinbotham says, "We measure it in square miles, not in acres." Over 1,000 acres, the vineyard is planted on sandy loam soil that sits atop ancient limestone beds; a perfect recipe for producing excellent wines. Although The Riverland is a low rainfall area, Paringa has a permanent and reliable source of water from the Murray River supplying the vineyard's state-of-the-art computer controlled drip irrigation system.

Because of David's extensive experience with dry-grown vines, having grown grapes sourced for Australia's most famous Shiraz, Penfolds Grange, he well understands low yields equate to quality, as do Paringa's chief winemaker John Gledhill and consulting winemaker, well-known Australian, Kym Teusner.

Grapes and wine are etched into David's genetic make-up. He is the third generation of his family to be involved in the wine industry starting with his famous grandfather, Alan Robb Hickinbotham. Alan Robb, considered one of the founders of the modern Australian wine industry, established Australia's first oenology course in 1936 – a course which today is recognized as one of the best in the world.

The Paringa vineyard is planted to Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small sections of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. And the results speak for themselves. Given their "value price" of under $10.00, the Paringa wines are often cited as "Best Values" in major wine publications. The Paringa Shiraz was featured among the "Best Value Wines Under $10" in Newsweek Magazine, as well as a "Top 100 Wine" in Wine Spectator.

Quintessential is importing six Paringa varietals from the 2008 vintage – Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay – at suggested retail prices of $10.99, and also a Sparkling Shiraz and Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir for $11.99. These wines will be available in all major markets by June 2010.

www.quintessentialwines.com.

SOURCE Quintessential