MINISTRY OF CLOUDS | MCLAREN VALE
Ministry of Clouds was established in 2012 by Bernice Ong and Julian Forwood, born out of their shared passion for wine and a desire to create a life immersed in its world. After years spent working with prestigious European wines and later with esteemed family-owned wineries in McLaren Vale, they developed a deep appreciation for the intricacies of viticulture and winemaking. Their journey fostered a love not just for wine itself but for the entire process—from walking the vineyards and understanding seasonal nuances, to working closely with growers and carefully guiding each vintage from vine to bottle.
Determined to chart their own path, Ong and Forwood created Ministry of Clouds as a way to pursue creative freedom and authenticity. The name reflects their belief in the delicate balance between control and unpredictability in winemaking—a humbling reminder that nature often has the final say. Ministry of Clouds is both a tribute to their meticulous craft and an embrace of the spontaneous beauty that makes wine so compelling.
McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023
Sand & Stones may break my bones, but geology will never hurt me…
Born of one of the most ancient and geologically diverse wine regions in the world, McLaren Vale, this wine is made from Australia’s most ubiquitous grape – Shiraz. With the aim that this Shiraz reflects our view of the region, we combine fruit from a Blewitt Springs deep sandy vineyard, and a younger more structured and fragrant parcel from the shallow old bedrock of our own Onkaparinga Rocks vineyard in the hope of a more modern, slender and youthful expression.
Tasting Notes
An exercise in slender power, bringing early picked McLaren Vale Shiraz characters exhibited by cool blue and red fruit with layers of coal dust and earth to entice, supported by a gentle oak creaminess, which progresses to the palate exhibiting a deep fruit weight kept bright, nervy, and fleshy and filed down nicely by a fine and mineral tannin line.
Consumption
Ideal serving temperature is 16 °C... God forbid a Shiraz that won’t dominate all food placed before it. Try with spicy Catalan Fish Stew with grilled rye and aioli. Cool cellaring between 5 years to 8 years will be rewarded.
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