Ricca Terra’s approach bears fruit

The Riverland region in northern Victoria is often dismissed as the land of cheap commercial wines; over-irrigated, high-yielding, machine harvested fruit that is destined for wine farms.

Part of the problem has been that the varieties planted were there simply as a cheap source of the varieties dominating the market at the time.

Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay are certainly versatile grape varieties but far from their best in a dry, hot climate such as the Riverland.

Enter Ricca Terra farms, a side project of viticulturist Ashley Ratcliff and his family that has become some of the most sought-after fruit in the Riverland.

Ratcliff knows the area well, having been a viticulturist for the Yalumba stable of brands for over a decade.

Since establishing the site in 2003, Ratcliff and his team have been recognised widely from the federal agriculture department through to Gourmet Traveller wine where Ashley was named the Viticulturist of the year in 2015.

The site continues to be recognised for its strong emphasis on alternative varieties that are better suited to the local climate than varieties that dominate winestore shelves.

In the last few years they have gone as far as ripping up their Cabernet because it was planted on some of their best soil, which could be devoted to a better suited variety. Couple that with cutting edge technology and viticultural practices, you have a site and a team that are mounting a very strong case for these Mediterranean grape varieties to be more widely planted in the region.

After providing fruit to some of the trendiest small producers for over a decade (Amato Vino, Unico Zelo, Brash Higgins and Delinquente to name a few), which undoubtedly helped to put those producers on the map with such high-quality fruit, as well as the biggest brands in the country (Accolade, Treasury Wine Estates, Oxford Landing), Ricca Terra have begun making and bottling wines themselves, which makes sense given that no one will know the site and the fruit as well as them.

Ricca Terra ‘Bronco Buster’ – $22.99

Many white blends in Australia are uninspiring. They can be a good way for the winemaker to make use of some less than stellar juice or marginal varieties, but often don’t bring much to the table for drinkers. This is one of the exceptions, a wine that brings together four varieties creating a sum that is greater than the parts. A unique blend of Vermentino, Fiano, Greco and Arinto. Varieties well suited to a warm dry climate. Vermentino was planted early on at Ricca Terra and suits the climate well, it can lack a little in flavour at times, which is where the Fiano and Greco can bring something to the party in the way of intense florals, subtle stone fruits, nuts and Arinto, which is native to Portugal, offers its intense mineral and citrus notes to keep the wine crisp and refreshing. Well worth trying this summer.