Our size gives us the opportunity to try things, both with new wines, new vineyards and of course vintages. We are always on the look-out for a special block that has been forgotten by the big boys, and one such block is the Prayer Garden Grenache Vineyard in Ebenezer. A an amazing vineyard, wonderful people and a beautiful wine

The Barossa is a fantastic place to visit, to eat, to drink and tour, but there are some wonderful activities beyond wine, once being Knife Making with Gardner Knives at Seppeltsfield. A great experience with a few friends, but book ahead, as it is very popular

Hayes Family Wines is once again very excited to announce our fantastic results as published in the 2023 James Halliday Wine Companion. Each years results are eagerly awaited by both the wine industry and consumers alike. Hayes Family Wines once again received 5 Red Stars reflecting our very consistent ratings for our submitted wines.

Single Varietal Wines are better, aren’t they? We are told so, and marketing in the new world of wine would suggest so, but blends have dominated much of the wine world for thousands of years. Seek them out starting with the Great Australian Blend - Cabernet Shiraz or the Great Barossa Blend - Grenache Shiraz Mataro.

Hayes Family Wines Estate Vineyard and Winery are Certified Sustainable. But what does this mean? What are we doing to be sustainable and to improve our credentials in the vineyard and winery.

Vines as they age face various risks, some natural, some mand made, some accidental. We are very fortunate that our vineyard although now more than 70 years old has very few gaps, but when a vine does die what do we do, how do we restore productivity to the panel missing the vine or vines.

A field blend is a wine made from grapes harvested and fermented together from a single block within a vineyard planted to multiple grape varieties. Simple, but if they are so special why are they so rare?

The last two years, essentially spent with in the Australian borders has been wonderful, but it is time to get back on the road, dinners, events, here we come!

Special Tawny requires the right grapes, picked at the right time, with the right spirit, aged, blended. Often unappreciated but incredibly important, the role of the barrel. A critical ingredient in any great barrel aged fortified.

After a period of appointment only, our cellar door will reopen for regular hours from June 1. We have a new team, a new look and some great new wines to show our visitors. So book a time and we welcome you with open arms!

It is often said that it takes a lot of beer to make good wine. Let me add, coffee is almost as important. But where do we buy it in the Barossa Valley?

Hayes Family Wines is a small team, just the three of us full time, but we bring together growers, winery workers, pickers, vineyard workers, suppliers and so many more people to contribute to each Vintage at Hayes Family Wines.

The Vintage Journal, by Andrew Caillard MW, is a free resource primarily published for the fine wine industry and wine collectors. In collaboration with Angus Hughson, it is a much needed addition to the Australian Wine Landscape. The feature on the Barossa is reason enough to have a read.

With Vintage 2022 coming to a close, it is time to turn our attention to the vineyard once more. Wines are made in the vineyard. And this year, we are adding some mulch and straw to the tough blocks up the hill.

Vintage 2022 has been a long season. It is slowly coming to an end. On 28 April the last our fruit has been delivered, with now 3 weeks ahead to finish for another year. A wonderful vintage, cannot fault it. Time will tell just how good it is (we suspect very good).

After fermentation, we put the grape skins into one of our two small basket presses to extract the ‘pressings’ to combine with the free run juice already extracted. Pressing tend to by higher in tannin, deeper in colour and generally more intense. A critical component of many of our end wines.

Vintage 2022 after a slow start is now into full swing. Our Shiraz at the Estate Vineyard is now picked, as is our Eden Valley Shiraz the first of the Shiraz from Ebenezer. A number of Grenache blocks have also been picked. Pressing our Fromm Shiraz is also complete. And the grapes looks spectacular!

Our size gives us the opportunity to try things, both with new wines, new vineyards and of course vintages. Vermouth has always been something both Andrew and I enjoy, but for sipping, and of course the occasional cocktail. We had the base fruit, we had the wormwood, we had the spirit, all we needed was to try some different ingredients, and our first vermouth was born!

The Barossa Arts Festival is a month long event through April 2022 celebrating the living artists throughout South Australia. Hayes Family Wines are celebrating with local artist, Janette Humble. Janette’s work is vibrant, emotive and expressionistic. We love it and I am sure you will too.

Vegan Friendly Wines are growing in popularity all the time. We are regularly asked whether our wines are vegan friendly, the answer is yes, but what makes them vegan friendly and do they taste any different?