Rusden: Champions of Vine Vale

Tucked between the Barossa’s more famous western ridges and the foothills of the Barossa Range, Vine Vale is one of the region’s quiet achievers. It's a pocket of deep sandy soils and small family vineyards that has underpinned some of the Barossa’s most expressive wines for generations. It’s here that winemaker Christian Canute and his family at Rusden have built a legacy rooted in respect for this distinctive landscape.

Unlike the heavier clays of nearby Marananga or Greenock, Vine Vale’s free-draining sand over clay, with high levels of broken down quartz and granite, produces wines of perfume and finesse rather than sheer power. The site sits slightly elevated on the eastern side of the Barossa, where cooling gully breezes from the Barossa Range and Eden Valley temper the summer heat, extending ripening and preserving acidity. The result is a style best described as “old Barossa elegance” – fragrant southern Rhöne varieties with supple tannins and vibrant fruit.

Despite its modest profile, Vine Vale remains a cornerstone of Barossa identity. In an era of increasing refinement and terroir focus, the region stands as a testament to the Barossa’s quieter side: a landscape where sandy soils and old vines continue to define authenticity and depth of character.

Christian grew up among the vines his parents (and Rusden founders) Christine and Dennis planted and tended by hand. His approach remains deeply traditional: dry-grown, low-intervention viticulture, open fermenters, basket pressing and patient maturation in seasoned oak.

While other subregions have chased scale and ripeness, Rusden’s Vine Vale expressions stand for restraint, authenticity and sense of place.

Rusden Chasing Daisies 2023

A Rhöne-inspired blend of grenache blanc, roussanne and clairette.

50% fermentation in first and second use French oak, remainder in stainless steel. Six months maturation on lees.

Rich nose with melon, papaya, honeysuckle, and stone fruits. Weight & texture on the palate with green mango, papaya, honeydew, hints of pineapple and garden herbs. Packs plenty of flavour and is so versatile for pairing with food.

Rusden Poco Loco Rosé 2023

A blend of grenache, cinsault, mataro, carignan, grenache blanc, viognier, ugni blanc and semillon.

An intriguing nose of watermelon, guava and crunchy red berries.

The palate shows hints of fruit sweetness offset by crunchy, savoury red fruits and a dry, unctuous finish. Loaded with flavour and absolutely perfect for summer.

Rusden Wildwood Cinsault 2024

100% cinsault, including a small portion of old vine (1960s-planted) cinsault.

Small batch fermentation in open fermenters followed by 12 months maturation in seasoned French oak. 

Aromas of pine needles, musk stick, red fruits and white pepper. the palate is light to medium-bodied, featuring a spectrum of red fruits: raspberry and cranberry with red liquorice and white pepper.

12% ABV and perfect with a light chill.

Rusden School Days Shiraz 2023 95 Points, Decanter

Younger shiraz (30 year-old vines) co-fermented with a small proportion of viognier skins, matured in 20% new and  80% seasoned French oak puncheons. Unfined and unfiltered.

This is the sixth vintage of ‘School Days’ and a standout wine from the 2023 vintage.

The nose is all boysenberry and cherry ripe with hints of pencil shavings ie. graphite and wood. The palate is dense with a spectrum of fruits, a lovely silky-softness and just the right amount of viognier pressings elevate the wine.

Rusden Christine's Vineyard Grenache 2023 From a one-acre vineyard, 70-year-old grenache vines. 

Hand-picked, small-batch fermentation in open fermenters. 18 months maturation in seasoned 600L Austrian oak.

The odd numbered vintages have a habit of working well for grenache and this is no exception.

Medium-bodied, showing red cherries, lavender, baking spice, hints of soy sauce and black tea.Lovely and long, fruit gives way to fine tannin and balanced acidity.