Purple Hands Colours of the South Pinot Gris 2024

About the Winery: Purple Hands Wines

Purple Hands Wines was born from a friendship between two wine enthusiasts: Craig Stansborough, a Chief Winemaker at a major winery, and Mark Slade, who shares a deep passion for wine. In 2006, the pair decided to turn their love of wine into something tangible. What began as a small project, crushing just over a tonne of Shiraz in Craig’s shed, quickly evolved into something more, producing around 100 dozen bottles in its first year.

But finding the right name for their new venture was the real challenge. Eventually, they landed on the perfect fit: Purple Hands. The name pays homage to the telltale signs of a red winemaker during vintage—their hands stained purple from constant contact with grape skins and juice. It’s a symbol of the hard work and craft that goes into each bottle of Purple Hands wine.

Purple Hands Wines is based in the Southern Barossa Valley, on their home vineyard, Stansborough, nestled near the famous Whispering Wall reservoir. Their 32-acre vineyard is planted on rich, red clay soils over limestone, ideal for Shiraz, as well as other varieties like Montepulciano and Aglianico. The southern end of the Barossa is known for its cooler climate, offering a longer ripening period to develop deeper flavours.

The mission of Purple Hands Wines is simple yet ambitious: to create fruit-driven wines with elegance and texture, wines that reflect the unique characteristics of their vineyards. From Barossa Shiraz to Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris, each wine is designed to be enjoyed both young and after years of cellaring, showcasing balance, flavour, and the potential for aging.