Berton Vineyards ships wine to more than 40 countries and sits among Australia’s top 20 exporters by volume, but chances are you’ve never heard of them. I knew very little about them either until I visited the Riverina region late last year and heard about this company that produces Australia’s only Aranel.
Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to visit the Berton cellar door for the post I wrote on Griffith, the small, cosmopolitan city at the heart of the New South Wales Riverina region. Nor have I tasted the Aranel – yet.
But I’ve recently tasted some of Berton’s very affordable wines and in particular its revamped Foundstone label, which we’ll look at further in this post.
The Riverina region rarely makes headlines yet it accounts for a vast proportion of Australia’s wine production. It is in this location that Berton has spent more than two decades building a winery that reaches shelves across Europe, Asia, North America and beyond.
Bob and Cherie Berton planted their first vines in 1996 on the slopes of High Eden in South Australia’s Barossa Valley. That vineyard still produces their award-winning Bonsai Shiraz.
New look for Foundstone
The purchase in 2005 of a winery in Yenda, on the outskirts of Griffith, enabled the Bertons to significantly expand their operation, processing grapes not just from their own vineyard but from some of Australia’s best known wine regions, including Coonawarra and Adelaide Hills.
The Bertons purchased the former Southcorp winery in partnership with Jamie Bennett and James Ceccato, along with Frank Sergi, from Foley’s Corner.
In the decades since, the tightly knit team has produced a suite of brands, from the entry-level Outback Jack range, through to Foundstone and the Mediterranean-inspired Alfresco range, right through to their Reserve wines and flagship Berton Vineyard The Bonsai.
Foundstone, one of Berton’s most popular ranges, is easy drinking at its best – fresh, appealing and remarkably budget-friendly (currently $72 per dozen on the Berton website).
Shifting from its previous brightly coloured packaging, the new labels are more muted, with a delicate vine motif running across the stones. If you look closely, you’ll see the initials of Berton’s five directors on the stones, a personal touch pointing to where the whole story started.
Foundstone N.V. Brut Cuvée: You don’t need a special occasion to enjoy this zippy sparkling wine. Produced by the carbonation method, it ain’t no Champagne, but it is crisp and dry with good acidity and a creamy mousse. With flavours of apple, citrus and lychee, it can be enjoyed as an aperitif, with charcuterie or bruschetta, or as a base for spritzes.
Foundstone 2025 Vineyard Select Rosé: Light in colour and body, this aromatic Rosé has subtle rose and berry notes. Crisp and dry, it complements seafood and antipasto nicely.
Foundstone 2025 Vineyard Select Cabernet Sauvignon: This medium-bodied red spent 10 months on new French and American staves, giving it hints of oak and soft tannins that pair with lightly spiced dishes and winter-warming roasts.
Foundstone 2025 Vineyard Select Shiraz: Generously flavoured and expressive with blueberry and plum notes, this drink-now Shiraz has hints of spice and sweet toasty oak. It would be hard to do better at the price.
More information: www.bertonvineyards.com.au
With thanks to Berton Vineyards for providing these wines for tasting.
If you’d like to visit the cellar door, here’s the perfect opportunity. During Griffith’s upcoming A Taste Of Italy festival, Berton will be celebrating Italian motoring, food, wine and culture.Macchina will be held from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, August 30. The family-friendly event will have live music, an Italian car and motorcycle display, wine tastings, barbecue and relaxed picnic vibe. The $5 entry includes a welcome pour. Tel: +61 (0)2 6968 1600.
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