@EldertonWines

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell your friends to join us to learn about Australian #wine from Cameron Ashmead of @EldertonWines!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to Cameron to say hello & so he knows you're here! #WineWednesday #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Don't forget that EVERY tweet during this chat should include the #SommChat hashtag in order for everyone to see it!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: you can ask your Qs as well! He'll do her best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Let's start talking #wine with Cameron Ashmead of @EldertonWines #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: I'm very excited to be on @SommChat today and looking forward to answering your questions. Also a little bit SCARED #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: What is like working in your family #Wine Business @EldertonWines #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Working in the family business is the most rewarding thing I've ever done. I love mixing family, work and pleasure. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @EldertonWines why was the #Barossa Valley picked in #Australia as the location for the Winery?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: It was picked bc it was surveyed by Col. William Light in 1837 & he thought it was ideal for vines and other forms of agriculture #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: The first vines were planted in around 1840 & they were planted by E. German settlers escaping religious persecution #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: The older vineyard today in the #Barossa dates back to 1843, all original vines, no re-plants. #SommChat

Helene Kremer @HKremer: Can you tell us about some of your winery's sustainability practices? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We work as organically as possible in the vineyards #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We measure we all of our green house gas emissions and we offset those by planting tree - on average around 6000 trees per yr. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Water is an issue in OZ. We recycle all of our water& harvest all of our rain water. We are water self sufficient 11m of the yr. #SommChat

Stephanie Miskew CSW @StephanieMiskew: Do you have any plans to be Certified Organic? Why or why not? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: @EldertonWines is not certified. We work as organically as possible but in the bad years we want the flexibility. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We just want to make great wine #SommChat

Stephanie Miskew CSW @StephanieMiskew: Makes perfect sense - totally understand! #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Hope you have a chance to taste our wines. They are available in FL with Stacole. Let me know what you think! #SommChat

Stephanie Miskew CSW @StephanieMiskew: I'll definitely check them out - I'm seeing my Stacole rep next week! Thanks for a fabulous #SommChat :)

Sandy Wasserman CS @SandyWasserman: Good morning Cameron @EldertonWines How did you get your start in wine & who are your mentors? FYI Back the day I sold the wines #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Sandy - thank you for selling the wines, hope you are still drinking them today. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: I got my start in the business because I was lucky enough to be born into a wine family. I#SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: did go off and do different things before joining the family business #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: My mentors were my mum & dad who brought different things to the table. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: The other mentor I've learned a lot from is Robert Hill Smith from @yalumba #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how many acres are N vineyards & how many wines do U make? what is production and any ideas 4 new grapes @EldertonWines

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We have 160 acres, 19 different wines & we make around 40,000 9L (what a personal question) #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: At this stage, no new grapes planned. We like the varietals we work with - Shiraz, Cab, Merlot, Carignan & Grenache #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what role does each of the family members play @EldertonWines do U have 2 wear > 1 hat?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We definitely wear many hats. My brother Al does marketing & production. I took mkting and look after the company day to day. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: My mum is the uber boss! #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: My wife Jules helps out with winemaking & Al's wife helps with export and production. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: It's a real family affair which we are very proud of. #SommChat

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Q @EldertonWines what grape variety or wine style are you most interested in right now?#SommChat @KeeperColl

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Obviously I love #Barossa Shiraz - but I also love Syrah from anywhere in the world #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Welcome to #SommChat @SandyWasserman @CharlesComm and @hkremer keep those great Qs for @EldertonWines Have a great #WW

Sandy Wasserman CS @SandyWasserman: Q @EldertonWines How was the 2017 harvest? How are the wines in barrel doing? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: 2017 was awesome. We've had 6 amazing vintages in a row. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: The wines in barrels are showing great concentration & elegance #SommChat

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Q @EldertonWines How would you describe #Barossa to someone who has never visited? #SommChat @KeeperColl

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: It looks a bit like Napa 40 years ago but the food is as good as the food in Napa today #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: It's a warm Mediterranean climate with some extraordinary old vineyards dotted around the place #SommChat

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Sounds absolutely wonderful!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm R the regs in #Australia easy for going toward #Org or #Bio @EldertonWines or are they hard?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Regs are similar to most other countries. It takes about 3 yrs to work toward certification #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm can U discuss about the drinking windows (aging) of your red #wines @EldertonWines

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: It depends on the wine, but for our great wine #CommandShiraz it varies between 7-30 yrs #SommChat

Stephanie Miskew CSW @StephanieMiskew: What are some of your favorite dishes to pair with your #Shiraz? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: An excellent cut of steak & venison ragu pasta or roasted beets #SommChat

Stephanie Miskew CSW @StephanieMiskew: Oh YESSSS!!! #nomnomnom #deliciousness #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Welcome back @StephanieMiskew to #SommChat glad to see you here with @EldertonWines and glad you have electricity back and are ok!

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Q @EldertonWines how have Elderton's wines evolved over the years? Stayed the same? #SommChat @KeeperColl

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We've stayed the same by still making the same style of wine. It's the wine we love to drink & make. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We own all our vineyards, we have an old Penfolds winery & we are very much into sustainabilty - all part of our evolution #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Owning our own vineyards is key it allows us to control quality and the grape growing process #SommChat

Sandy Wasserman CS @SandyWasserman: Q @EldertonWines What do wines/regions do you like to drink when not drinking your wines? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: The best wine I've every had was drinking @CampbellsWines NV Merchant Price Muscat in the snow with my in-laws #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: I drink wines from #margaretriver #yarravalley #huntervalley #champagne #rhone #napa - basically everything apart from Pinotage #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep @EldertonWines what is your favorite part about working in the #wine industry?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: In general we have fun - but seriously in my role I get to see grapes grown, wine make and people ultimately enjoying it. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @EldertonWines did you ever consider working in an industry other than #wine? if so what? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: I worked in finance for 12 years and I'm very happy I don't do that anymore! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @EldertonWines Cam, what was the first #wine you ever drink - how old were you and what do U remember abt the #wine? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: The first wine I can remember drinking seriously was a 1988 @EldertonWines Rhine Riesling #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: I was 16 & I remember getting caught by the teacher at boarding school drinking it. I got an 8hour labor detention. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: It was the worst punishment you can get apart from suspension...but the wine was worth it! #SommChat

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Q @EldertonWines what is the best part about working in the Ashmead family fold? #SommChat @KeeperColl

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We share the same dumb sense of humor. There's a great sense of self satisfaction making these wines together as a family. #SommChat

Sandy Wasserman CS @SandyWasserman: Q @EldertonWines How has the Australian wine industry been doing overall the last few years? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We are on fire. Maybe not in the US just yet but overall in #australia #asia & #canada we are very strong. The US is coming back! #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We are making better wines these days #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Companies like ours with real people, real vineyards and real stories are important for the industry and the image of #australia #SommChat

Sandy Wasserman CS @SandyWasserman: So true! #SommChat #wine

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep @EldertonWines what makes #Barossa Valley #Australian #wine different from other #wines in regions in Australia?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We have some of the worlds oldest vineyards, we have history & smart people who live & work in the #Barossa who make it great #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what are UR biggest mkts in US and where are you focusing to grow in #US @EldertonWines

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We would love to grow the Northeast, watch out #NY - we are coming for you #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We have a strong following in the southeast & mid-atlantic #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm if I could only add 2 @EldertonWines right now 2 my #wine list which 1s would u suggest and why?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: #OdetoLorraine Cab/Shiraz/Merlot bc it is so unique. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: #CommandShiraz as it is iconic & classic and represents the best of #australian #Shiraz #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Both are full bodies wines that offer concentration, length & elegance along with the ability to age #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Australia's gift to the world of winemaking is Cab/Shiraz and Ode to Lorraine has a splash of merlot to soften it. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @EldertonWines what makes Elderton #Wines unique? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We have old vines, we don't run the newer shiraz clones used by so many. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We believe our philosophy of making classic wines with balance & acidity sets us apart. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep @EldertonWines have u seen an issue in #Barossa Valley #australia with Climate Change & what R U doing to address if so?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We are definitely seeing climate change. Temps have risen, rainfall levels have dropped and vintage takes place earlier #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: To mitigate against climate change, we use canopy management to help off-set the affects & we are picking a little earlier #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We are paying attention to these changes because all of our wine is made in the vineyard #SommChat

Judia Black @enjoielife: Good afternoon. Just checking in to see whats happening at #SommChat today.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: .@enjoielife thanks for checking in and @EldertonWines is blowing up #SommChat today - Happpy #WW

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm U talk abt the age of UR vines - when U have 2 replace, do you do by vine or by vineyard @EldertonWines

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: For Command Shiraz planted in 1894 we have less than 2% of layered vines, they are mostly all original. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We replace by vine when we have to. We use the layering technique. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: This means we get a long cane or rod and dig it into the ground next to the vine and we grow the vine that way. #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: After 3yrs once vine is established we cut the cane from the original vine. #SommChat

Judia Black @enjoielife: Syrah, shiraz is one of the oldest varietals known to civilization. What's new in the world of Aussie wine? #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: For Elderton it's kick-ass Grenache blends similar to the Southern Rhone #SommChat

Judia Black @enjoielife: Yes, Australia brings to mind a heavier, bolder style of wine. #SommChat

Judia Black @enjoielife: So that is a surprise. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm can you share the #terroir and #weather surrounding UR vineyards & any major differences @EldertonWines

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We run three individual vineyards that we believe represent the best of the #Barossa #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: The first vineyard is #Nuriootpa which is rdd brown earth over limestone that provides the power for our wines #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: The Greenock vineyard with mostly iron-stone soils provides concentration & tannin generally speaking #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Our Eden Valley vineyard in the Barossa high country has more skeletal soils which provides elegance #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: All of these vineyards are roughly 15 miles apart from each other #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep @EldertonWines does Elderton allow visitors and how would a visitor arrange and is there a best time of year to do this?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Yes! We have one of Australia's most unique cellar doors - it's 100years old, a grass tennis court, a swimming pool and lounges #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: I think the best time to visit is June/July/Aug. Less tourist around and you'll get lots of attention from owners/winemakers #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: You can go to our website eldertonwines.com.au or reach out to us on twitter etc..to book a private appointment #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm you mentioned drinking @EldertonWines #riesling - really? u don't make now - when did it stop and why?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We still make it & we love it! It's bone dry and super small production. It's only sold in Australia #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm does @EldertonWines hold back vintages 2 cellar & if so what is the oldest? If so, is it for private cons. R do u sell?

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: We don't hold much older stock and we general only sell it to our customers in Australia. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk w/ Cameron Ashmead of @EldertonWines #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: It was great to have Cameron Ashmead @EldertonWines join us today for #SommChat. We hope everyone learned as much as we did!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Please join us in thanking Cameron Ashmead @EldertonWines for his time #SommChat

Cameron Ashmead for @EldertonWines: Thanks for having my guys! I've had a blast. I'm not scared of #SommChat any longer. Signing off from Richmond VA!