# Ministry of Clouds Grenache Carignan (2024)

- **Producer:** Ministry of Clouds
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grenache, Carignan
- **Region:** South Australia, Australia
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.4%
- **Average price:** €24
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 15–17 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** raspberry, strawberry, cherry, plum, white pepper, fennel, cloves

## About this wine

Ministry of Clouds was established by Bernice Ong and Julian Forwood in McLaren Vale, South Australia, with a focus on site-expressive wines. Designed as an Australian homage to the Mediterranean reds of Spain's Priorat region, this blend combines old-vine Grenache sourced from 80+ year-old bush vines atop Onkaparinga Gorge with dry-grown Carignan from the MoC Chase Vineyard in Seaview.

## Interesting facts

- The Grenache component comes from 80+ year-old bush vines planted in the 1940s on deep Maslin sands.
- Created as an homage to the classic Mediterranean blends of Spain's iconic Priorat region.
- Aged in large seasoned oak puncheons and stainless steel to build body while retaining vibrant fresh fruit.

## Food pairing

The wine's bright natural acidity and sandy tannin structure slice through savory fats, while its perfume of red fruit and herbal nuance harmonizes seamlessly with grilled meats, roasted Mediterranean vegetables, and hard cheeses.

## Wine making process

Fruit was 100% hand-harvested and vinified using indigenous yeast in open fermenters, incorporating 15% whole bunches and 85% whole berries. The wine spent between 2 to 6 weeks on skins across 6 separate ferment batches with gentle hand plunging. Following basket pressing, maturation took place on gross lees for 6 months in inert stainless steel tanks and seasoned French oak puncheons to build texture without adding oak flavor.