Gentle Folk
Gentle Whispers of Praise
If you’re talking cult Adelaide Hills natural wine producers, it’s hard to avoid the gentle whispers of praise that follow Gareth and Rainbo Belton.
Marine scientists turned winemakers, it’s little wonder their wines showcase a healthy obsession with the science (and wonder) of terroir, turning their focus from seaweed to soil.
Whetting their whistle with time spent in Basket Range alongside James Erskine (of Jauma) and Alex Schulkin (The Other Right), their three first barrels in 2013 set them on course for a move away from academia and into a global exploration of winemaking.
Living within the Basket Range community, the Belton's share a winery with their mates and produce authentic, humble, natural wines that do their talking in the glass.
Rustic and Wild or Prettily Picture Perfect
Based in the Basket Range subregion of the Adelaide Hills, Gentle Folk have spent the last decade generating a slow-rolling tidal wave of respect in the natty wine scene.
Priding themselves on steadfast relationships with Adelaide Hills growers and the eight hectares they farm in organic symbiosis, their namesake wines reflect a dedication to each site and farmer, from Monomeith to Morialta.
Working closely with Viticultural consultant Dr Dylan Grigg and Assistant Winemaker James Ellis, vines are treated to a number of biodynamic practices in the vineyard.
Producing cracking site blends alongside captivating single vineyard releases, wines are seasonally independent, a reflection of each growing season and its interaction with the unique personality of each site - whether rustic and wild or prettily picture perfect.
True to form, in the winery, you’ll find the influence of whole bunch and cluster open top ferments, lacings of French and Austrian oak (some new), and not much else.
Celebrating diversity, dodging additions and avoiding the trap of cookie cutter seasonal releases, the ever-changing stories of climate and terroir positively shine.
