| Character | Climate | Geography |

Character
When Maurice O’Shea bought the Rosehill land, with the support and backing of the McWilliam family, in 1945, he was looking for a similar site to that of Mount Pleasant. What he found was a parcel of rich, volcanic loam soil and planted the Rosehill Vineyard. The old, deep volcanic soils provide the nutrients, character and structure required for premium quality Shiraz.

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Climate
Seasonally, the region’s climate shifts between Mediterranean conditions found in South Australia (winter rainfall and summer droughts) to the northern Australian climate (summer rain and winter droughts).Of the 787mm annual rainfall, most occurs between October and April. The humidity, the afternoon sea breezes all operate to temper the summer and afford excellent ripening conditions.

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Geography
The Rosehill Vineyard is located in the Lower Hunter Valley which falls within the northern section of the geological province of the Sydney Basin, which is often referred to as the main coal basin of New South Wales. It is dominated by a number of siliceous rocks, including quartose, lithic sandstone, shale, claystone, mudstone and conglomerates. The Rosehill Vineyard enjoys a good Northerly aspect, providing the vines with sunshine from dusk till dawn, perfect for ripening.

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Location
Pokolbin, Lower Hunter Valley, NSW

Elevation
60-100m; one of Pokobin’s highest elevations

Size
30ha

Varieties
Shiraz (30ha)

Vine Orientation
North-east; the vineyard is planted to the contours of the land to allow good sunlight.

Vines per hectare
2000

Row Spacing
3.35m

Vine Spacing
1.5m

Soil type
Rich, volcanic loam

Trellising
Vertical Shoot Positioning and Cordon Ballerina; ensures maximum sunlight penetration, reduces the risk of disease and controls weeds.