Grounded Cru

Grounded Cru wines are the brainchildren of Geoff ‘Joffa’ Thompson and Matt ‘Jacko’ Jackson who have put together a portfolio of Australian wines from McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Langhorne Creek. They have longstanding fruit contracts so they can create only consistent, high-quality wines where the varietal character of the area is paramount. 

Oak is used sparingly, and only to balance the wine. Joffa and Jacko have selected vineyards in what they consider to be the best premium areas of South Australia. From Adelaide Hills they want delicate whites, sparkling and Pinot Noir wines, the cooler elevated climate giving cooler nights during the warm ripening period. The McLaren Vale provides mainly reds which benefit from being beautiful, old vines experiencing subtle terroir variations and a maritime influence, while Langhorne Creek has fruit with rich, soft velvety tannins, a juicy, elegant side and the cooling influence of Lake Alexandrina. The concentration behind the old vine grapes that they use, particularly with reference to McLaren Shiraz and Cabernet, allows their wines to age for 15+ years without problem. The wines are made in a winery at McLaren Flat under Jacko’s watchful eye. Since 2020 Grounded Cru has been a ‘5-Star Winery’ in the Halliday Wine Companion, as well as achieving strong scores in local and national competitions.