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.
Welcome to Country…
From the First Australians through to our most recent migrants, our lives are enriched by their cultural capital. In Blewitt Springs it was the Italian families who arrived post war to plant the blocks that the English had missed that has forever changed the face of McLaren Vale.
Blewitt Springs Shiraz 2021
Conceived, planted and nurtured from 1960 onwards on an elevated east facing site, this famed Blewitt Springs Shiraz vineyard is celebrated in this single site wine. We thank the Patritti family for the opportunity to revel in their fantastic fruit.
Tasting Notes
A blue fruited, dense, but aromatic and generously fragrant expression of Blewitt Springs Shiraz. Gently complex, showing bright cherry fruit, raspberries and cranberries, layers of nutmeg, violets, and a supporting foundation of spicy French oak. On the palate, it exhibits a finely wrought core of intense fruit, framed by persistent sandy tannins, and kept taut by a line of natural acidity.
Consumption
Ideal serving temperature is 16 °C, please take the time to splash in a decanter for as long as you dare – and serve with your favourite Sunday Roast. Ours is a standing beef rib roast with duck fat potatoes and spring beans. Cool cellaring between 5 years to 15 years will be rewarded.
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