Wine d’Arenberg, “The Laughing Magpie”, 2017

Introduction

Vineyards and shrubs that surround the winery “d’Arenberg” became home to the Australian Kookaburra bird known for its distinctive voice like laughter. Daughter of chief winemaker Chester Osborn, Alicia and Rabi called two tame Kookaburra “Laughing Magpie”. Although outwardly black and white magpie has nothing to do with her Australian cousin, but now in the estate “d’Arenberg” Kookaburra bird called only “Laughing magpie” (Laughing Magpie). Chester Osborn had the idea that the name would be a good choice for a first in the history of McLaren Vale wine, a blend that combines two colors – black and white Shiraz Viognier.

To create a wine “The Laughing Magpie” selects only very concentrated, ripe grapes Shiraz Viognier and which are vinified separately. Berries gently choke using the crusher with rubber teeth “Demoisy”, then fermented in open fermenters. After about 2 weeks must carefully pressed into steel baskets XIX century “Coq” and “Bromley & Tregoning” and moves to 10 months in barrels of American and French oak maturation. After 10 months, the wine is assembled and bottled. Wine storage capacity of 15 or more years.
Vintage 2010 won the bronze medal at the “Decanter World Wine Awards, 2014”.

History “d’Arenberg” – one of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale began in 1912 when Joseph Osborn purchased 25 hectares of vineyards in the hills north of Bellevue. Son of Joseph – Francis, increased the area to 78 hectares of vineyards and, before the end of construction in 1928, private wineries, harvest sold to local winemakers, and later established his own production of dry red and fortified wines.
His son – Francis d’Arenberg Osborne, known as d’Arrest, 16 years after leaving school in 1943, joined his father, and in 1957 completely took over the management of a winery. In 1959, he launches under its own brand “d’Arenberg”, named after his mother – Frances Helena d’Arenberg. Wine immediately received cult status from connoisseurs, critics and judges. In 2004, Francis d’Arenberg Osborn was awarded the Order of Australia for his contribution to the wine industry in the region McLaren Vale. Francis is very proud of its achievements in the creation of great wines, commonly known as “red band” because of the distinctive red diagonal stripes, which adorns the labels of wines “d’Arenberg”.

The representative of the fourth generation – Chester d’Arenberg, after graduating from college Rouzvort and gain practical experience in a number of Australian and European wine regions, took the reins “d’Arenberg” as chief winemaker in 1984. He immediately began to return to the traditional practice of family vineyards growing grapes: at minimum cost and without artificial pollination, irrigation to the extent possible, with very low yields. Winemaking processes of the past have been preserved, unique wines are made in small batches and perfectly convey the nature of class and a true taste of the region’s wines Valley McLaren.

“Chester Osborn, as the creator of the wide range of wines, other than impeccable quality, almost deserves credit for what he has managed to create in this price range. If you are a fan of Australian wines, wines D’Arenberg – this is exactly what we should endeavor, as that can offer you Osbournes has a broad mind and the same character. In short, praise, which the owner of the winery and winemaker Chester Osborn received not only from the magazine The Wine Advocate, but in reality, and from all over the world, fully deserved “- Robert Parker,” The Wine Advocate “, August 2003.