P h i l o s o p h y

B a r o s s a W i n e s . A u s t r a l i a

Th e Wi n e s

C o o l Wo o d s Our Cool Woods range is made from a blend of grapes from our own vineyards and others sourced from selected vineyards throughout South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. We aim to create consistent quality from year to year, which is why we allow ourselves the flexibility of sourcing the most suitable grapes from around the country. The range is competitively priced for the budget conscious consumer and offers outstanding value.

ShirazSpicy, appealing plum fruit characters

Sauvignon BlancZesty, fresh lemon/lime, crisp dry finish

Pinot GrisPears and spice, great mouth feel

ChardonnayUnoaked, peach and melon, creamy texture

Cool Woods

Cabernet SauvignonRich berry fruits,structure, subtle oak

W i n e m a k i ng P h i l o s o p h y

Our winemaking team has the philosophy that great wines are made in the vineyard not the winery, and that the members of the teams are custodians rather than creators of quality. Helen McCarthy, who leads our winemaking team, strongly believes that to make wines with complexity and elegance, the first step is getting the vineyards right.

Once harvested the winemaking team use the differences in vineyard expression to their advantage. The winemakers spend enormous amounts of time tasting the wines and perfecting blends. Our yeast and oak philosophy is simple, they should add to the complexity and balance of the wine, they shouldn’t dominate it. In both cases the selection of strain or oak type depends on the characters and structure naturally found in the fruit.

Th e Q ua l i t y O b j e c t i v e

David Clarke, a geologist by training, helped by his father Brian and son Sam, spent years seeking out the properties which he believed were able to deliver the best quality fruit in the Barossa. Once the family had acquired the properties, David carried out his own soil tests to determine where each variety should be planted. The family now has four superb vineyard properties located throughout the Barossa and it’s high altitude sub region, the Eden Valley.

Each vineyard has been planted to highlight the individual micro-climates and terroirs of the Barossa. We bring these unique differences to the fore in single vineyard wines, and we also take parcels for cross-terroir blending to achieve complexity and interest.

The Thorn-Clarke family already has a long history in The

Barossa – six generations of involvement in the region’s world

famous wine industry. We take a long-term view of the future

and our goal is unashamedly to be still growing grapes and

making wine for another six generations. We aim to achieve

this by developing sustainable relationships based on loyalty

trust and quality.

Sam Clarke

Th e Wi n e s – O t h e r E x c i t i ng N e w R e l e a s e s

B a r o s s a W i n e s . A u s t r a l i a B a r o s s a W i n e s . A u s t r a l i a

P e o p l e & H i s t o r y

Th o r n - C l a r k e E d e n Va l l e y S pa r k l i ng The Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay is pale pink / salmon in colour, the nose displays some yeasty characters with underlying strawberry fruit. On the palate this wine is a light bodied but full flavoured sparkling

Taw ny P o r t The Thorn-Clarke Tawny has been made from the traditional tawny varieties of Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz, and blended to an average age of 10 years. It is a rich, golden brown colour, with hints of red. The bouquet is of aged fruit and rancio. Luscious fruit flavours greet the palate while a silky texture integrates with the classic rancio and oak characters.

B a r o s s a Te r r o i r M a l b e c This stunning wine forms part of a range of wines released each year, called Barossa Terroirs. The Malbec is grown at our St Kitts site in the North of the Barossa. The palate is full bodied with rich and voluptuous blackberry and blueberry fruit. The flavour is quite concentratedand gives a wonderful viscous, mouth-filling sensation. The fruit and oaktaste lingers to give the wine length and presence.

M o r e l l o N e b b i o l o The colour is a medium brick red, typical of the Nebbiolo variety. On the nose, ripe plums, tar and an earthy character. The palate is medium bodied but full in flavour with great cherry flavours (as the name Morello suggests), vegemitey yeast characters with a hint of tea tree and Chinese spices. Chalky tannins, characteristic of Nebbiolo and the savoury nature of this wine, makes it a great match with food. The wine finishes with lingering cherry fruits and fine integrated tannins.

The name Thorn-Clarke derives literally from the relationship between two long time Barossa families. Founders David and Cheryl Clarke (nee Thorn), work with their son and daughter, Sam and Nicole, in this family orientated business.

Husband and wife, David and Cheryl both have deep family roots in the Barossa. Cheryl Clarke’s family, the Thorn’s, have been grape growers in the Barossa since the 1870’s. The Thorn family property ‘Clifton’ is still in the family and is owned and operated by one of Cheryl’s brothers. Clifton has planted on it one of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in Australia and possibly the world, earliest records show this block of Shiraz was in existence in 1854 and was one of the regions first vineyard plantings.

David Clarke’s family were pioneers in the Barossa as well but most famously in the mining of gold from the Barossa Goldfields from the 1870’s onwards. David’s passion for wine brought about the planting of the Kabininge vineyard outside of Tanunda in 1987. This represented the start of a deeper involvement by the family in the Barossa wine industry, and was followed by the planting of St Kitts, Milton Park and Mount Crawford Vineyards.

DAVID CLARKE Joint Proprietor – the family patriach with a background in geology and a strong sense of family. Producing great wine with a terroir focus has been David’s lifetime ambition.

CHERYL CLARKEJoint Proprietor – a fifth generation Barossan born and bred. Cheryl has a real passion for white wines and was the driving force behind the establishment of the Mount Crawford vineyards.

NICOLE CLARKEJoint Proprietor – has worked full time in the family business and continues to work on a part time basis whilst bringing up another generation of her own.

SAM CLARKEJoint Proprietor – responsible for the day to day management of Thorn-Clarke Wines with a particular interest in producing the very best fruit from the Estate vineyards.

HELEN McCARTHYSenior Winemaker Helen has come to Thorn-Clarke after a stint with Southcorp and Taylors. She is highly credentialed as she has completed the Len Evans tutorial and the Wine Industry Future Leader’s program in addition to holding a degree in Oenology from Adelaide University with First honours.

O u r Vi n e ya r d s

B a r o s s a W i n e s . A u s t r a l i a

Th e Wi n e s – S a n d p i p e r

B a r o s s a W i n e s . A u s t r a l i a

The Sandpiper range includes three reds – all of which offer outstanding value for money.The Sandpiper Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have received French and American oak maturation to compliment our rich Barossa fruit.

The reds are primarily sourced from vineyards at Milton Park and St Kitts.

SandpiperCabernet SauvignonLeafy, berry fruits, fine tannins

Left: Milton Park’s Sandpiper Block.Right: Milton Park looking east.

SandpiperShirazSpicy, plums, chocolateand rounded

SandpiperMerlot Chalky tannins, mint, cherry, dark chocolate

A C C O L A D E S

r i e s l i n g5 Gold, 5 Silver, 13 bronze medals94 Points, 92 Points – James Halliday94 Points – Huon Hooke91 Points – Wine Spectator5 Stars – Ralph Kyte-Powell

c h a r d o n n a y1 Silver, 4 Bronze91 Points – Wine SpectatorRecommended – Winewise Lester Jesberg4 Stars – Winestate Magazine

p i n o t g r i s1 Gold, 8 Silver, 9 BronzeHighly Recommended – Winewise Magazine4 Stars – Decanter Best New Release 2006

c a b e r n e t s a u v i g n o n2 Gold, 8 Silver, 9 Bronze91 Points, 90 Points – James HallidayBest In Class – London International Wine & Spirit ChallengeBest Buy – Robert Parker4 ½ Stars, 4 Stars, 4 Stars, 3 ½ Stars – Winestate Magazine

s h i r a z2 Trophies, 13 Gold, 15 Silver, 8 Bronze91 Points, 90 Points, 89 Points,– Robert Parker90 Points – James Halliday 5 Stars, 4 Stars – Winestate Magazine4 Stars – Cuisine Magazine

m e r l o t2 Trophies, 2 Gold, 6 Silver, 9 Bronze93 Points, 90 Points – James Halliday89 Points – Robert Parker4 Stars – Winestate Magazine

M ou n t C r aw f o r d V i n e ya r dThe 37 Hectare Mount Crawford Vineyard is one of the coolest vineyard sites in South Australia, which makes it ideal for growing premium white varieties such as our Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.

M i l t o n Pa r k V i n e ya r dLocated in classic Eden Valley country, between Angaston and Keyneton, the Milton Park vineyard has an elevation of between 330 and 400 metres above sea level. The 92ha vineyard is made up of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Each block was planted with the most suitable variety for that particular terroir.

S t K i t t s V i n e ya r dOur St Kitts Vineyard is located on the Northern Barossa Slopes. Cooler, and with lower rainfall, these northern Barossa vineyards totalling 108ha, are at an elevation of between 380 and 410 metres. This micro-climate restricts yields and the thin, moderately well developed residual soils overlying marble, schist, Truro Volcanics and Heatherdale Shale, necessitated a careful vineyard layout matching variety to soil type. St Kitts is home to some exceptional Shiraz.

K a b i n i ng e V i n e ya r dLocated just south of the town of Tanunda, the 33ha Kabininge vineyard is true Barossa Valley floor terroir. It supplies grapes for many of our high end red wines. At just 270 metres above sea level and located on dark grey to dark brown carbonaceous soils (known as Bay of Biscay), red wine grapes ripen easily here.

KILOMETRES

0 50

CLARE

RIVERLAND

ADELAIDEADELAIDE HILLS

McLAREN VALE

THE BAROSSA

COONAWARRA

LOCATION MAP OF THE BAROSSA

LANGHORNE CREEK

LOCATION MAP OF ADELAIDE SOUTH AUSTRALIA

ADELAIDE

T h e B a r o s s a W i n e R e g i o n

OFFICE/CELLAR DOOR

O u r Wi n e s

B a r o s s a W i n e s . A u s t r a l i a

Above: A view looking towards Mt Crawford.

Left: An aerial view of the vineyard with Mt

Crawford beyond it. The numbers on the

photograph indicate the plantings of varieties .

1.Chardonnay 2.Riesling 3.Pinot Gris 4.Sauvignon Blanc 5.Merlot.Bottom: The light residual soil here is ideal for these varieties.

Already widely acclaimed by wine writers and trade throughout the world, the Shotfire range has one key goal - to build consumer loyalty by over delivering on quality.

There are three wines in the Shotfire range - Shiraz, Quartage (typically a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot & Petit Verdot in the traditional Bordeaux style), and Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz.

When the Clarke forbearers discovered gold in 1870 at the Lady Alice mine in the Barossa goldfields, so began a family dynasty intrigued by geology. A fine legacy that is reflected today in the terroir of our vineyards. Shotfire immortalises the Shotfirer’s hazardous job of setting and lighting the charges in the mines.

The William Randell Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are Thorn-Clarke’s flagship wine. Our family ancestor, Captain William Randell, was an iconic figure in South Australia way back in the 1850’s. A true pioneer, he designed, crafted and sailed Australia’s first paddle steamer, instrumental in opening up trade along Australia’s greatest inland waterway, the Murray River.

We hand prune the vines to low bud numbers and aim to crop at around one and half tonne per acre. Single wire trellising ensures the bunches receive sunlight filtered through the leaf canopies.

The wine is matured in barrel; a combination of new American and French oak hogsheads for a minimum of 18 months. The outcome is an inky black, powerful and intense wine with elegant oak complexity balanced by great fruit weight.

The Terra Barossa range comprises of four reds. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have received French and American oak maturation to compliment our rich Barossa fruit.

The Shiraz Cabernet Petit Verdot consists of premium red varieties, varying in proportions from vintage to vintage to ensure a consistent style.

The Mount Crawford range comprises three superb single vineyard whites. The Eden Valley Pinot Gris, Riesling and Chardonnay are clean, lively drink now styles with excellent structure and balance.

Pinot Gris

Thorn-Clarke Eden Valley Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay is pale pink / salmon in colour, the nose displays some yeasty characters with underlying strawberry fruit. On the palate this wine is light bodied yet full of flavour.

A wa r d s / A c c o l a d e s

B a r o s s a W i n e s . A u s t r a l i a B a r o s s a W i n e s . A u s t r a l i a

A n I n t e r nat i o na l ly R e now n e d Fa m i ly Wi n e r y

Sam Clarke heads up a family wine business with six generations of continuing commitment to Barossa wine. His co-proprietors are his mother and sister, Cheryl and Nicole, and his father David. Both his grandfather and uncle live onvineyards nearby.

After so many generations involved in cultivating grapes in the Barossa, the family approached the question of releasing it’s own Estate Grown wine with great care and lengthy deliberation.

Fulfilment came in July 2002 when the family released the first Thorn-Clarke wines to the world. In a market full of new entrants and established brands, Thorn-Clarke stood out.

Wine writers, Masters of Wine, restaurateurs, retailers and most importantly, consumers all over the world have since discovered the outstanding value for money that Thorn-Clarke wines have been able to offer. The Thorn-Clarke range includes:

Sandpiper Three reds and three whites, competitively priced premium table wines. Also under the Thorn Clarke brand are the Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay and Morello Nebbiolo. Shotfire Three highly acclaimed ultra premium red wines; a Shiraz, a Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, a Cabernet based blend called Quartage and a full bodied Chardonnay.William Randell A flagship Shiraz – a classic 100% Barossa blockbuster with amazing concentration of flavour, complexity and length.

Thorn-Clarke wines are now distributed in the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Finland, Poland, Thailand, Sweden, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cyprus, Denmark, China, Israel, South Korea, Norway, Switzerland, Taiwan, Vanuatu.

‘The greatest red wine values in the marketplace’Robert Parker

‘5 Star Winery – 8 consecutive years’James Halliday – Wine Companion (2007-2014)

‘Winner of Trophy for Top Australian Shiraz’2013 International Wine Challenge

‘Top 100 Wines in the World – Three Years’Wine Spectator Magazine

‘Top 100 Australian Wines of 2012’James Halliday

Awards and Accolades above are current as of August 2013.