January News 2026
Jan 15, 2026
Happy New Year from the team at Two Hands Wines!
We’re kicking off January with a sigh of relief as cooler temperatures return to the Barossa Valley. While our Shiraz vines are built to withstand a classic South Australian heatwave, managing 40°C days requires precision by the team. Through careful soil moisture monitoring and sustainable vineyard management, we’re ensuring our fruit stays protected and vibrant as we approach the 2026 vintage.
IN THE VINEYARD
While Barossa Shiraz is notoriously resilient, extreme temperature spikes can fast track ripening in ways that risk berry shrivel and sunburn. These conditions can also stall the development of the deep colour compounds we look for in our premium fruit. To stay cool, the vines rely on transpiration, a natural cooling system that only functions effectively when there is sufficient moisture in the soil to keep the "air conditioning" running.
The team has been keeping a close eye on the blocks following the recent heat. Our key focus is maintaining healthy soil moisture levels so the vines can continue to transpire and stay balanced. Precise irrigation timing is essential during these windows, not just for this year's yield, but for the long-term health of our estate. The exciting part is that veraison is nearly here; we expect to see the berries change colour from green to red/purple in the coming weeks, which sets us up for a mid March start to the 2026 harvest.
What's next? Bird-netting for vine protection.
As veraison kicks in and sugar levels rise, the local bird population quickly takes notice. Our team will soon be out in the rows securing nets to protect the crop on our Marananga estate vineyards. Getting these physical barriers in place now is vital to ensure the fruit remains pristine and untouched as it enters the final stages of ripening.
Experience the Season
There is no better time to see the vineyard in action than during the lead up to harvest. We invite you to visit us in Marananga to see the nets roll out and the landscape transform. Book a Tasting or join us for a Vineyard Experience to go behind the scenes and taste the character of the Barossa Valley for yourself.
IN THE WINERY
The winery has had a fresh delivery of new French oak barrels arrive this week, and it’s worth saying "it’s not more oak, it’s the right oak", from the right cooper, with the right toast profile to suit the wine. This season’s selection includes barrels from Dargaud & Jaeglé, Damy, Sylvain, Saury and Hassin, each chosen for the way they shape texture, build mid palate and frame our Barossa Shiraz without ever stealing the show. Richard personally selects the oak we purchase each year, tasting and assessing what the vintage needs, so every barrel that rolls in has a clear purpose in the final blend.
The winery team have also been working on assembling the extra set of ‘hands’ to help guide fruit through the winery during harvest. Each year a crew of casuals from across the globe come on board to help with vintage. They are always a mix of winemakers and cellar hands travelling the world, following the harvest trail from country to country. Just as special are the locals or familiar faces who return, along with people who’ve worked alongside Richard many times over his career.
AT CELLAR DOOR
Cellar Door was buzzing over the December break, with many familiar faces returning and plenty of new visitors discovering Two Hands for the very first time. A highlight this year of course was welcoming groups keen to stretch their legs and explore our new Nature Trail, winding their way down for a close up hello with our resident Scottish Highlanders, the fluffiest locals on Seppeltsfield Road. Keen eyed visitors might also notice that Pearl is starting to look a little more blonde than “Pearl” these days, but she’s still very cute nonetheless.
If you’re planning a long weekend escape, we’ll be open across the Australia Day long weekend too, so pop the us on the itinerary and come settle in for a tasting on the deck (bookings are always a good idea on busy weekends).
EVENTS
Adelaide locals (and our McLaren Vale neighbours), Vanessa will be down at the Beachside Food and Wine Festival on Saturday 7 February 2026, 4:00pm to 9:30pm at Rotary Park, Christies Beach. She’ll be set up in the caravan with the Defender, pouring some crowd favourites.
FEBRUARY
Beachside Food and Wine Festival
Rotary Park, Christies Beach, SA
Saturday, 7 February · 4pm to 9:30pm
Wine Paris
Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris, France
9 - 11 February
Cycling fans! If you’re heading to the Santos Tour Down Under and making a day of it in the Barossa, be sure to take a small detour and visit us here in Marananga. As the race rolls through the Barossa on the 21st of Jan, our Cellar Door is ready for a relaxed tasting stop. Settle in, cool off after the excitement of the peloton, and enjoy a guided tasting on the deck with our team, no lycra required!
We are also currently busy putting together our full 2026 calendar of events, featuring our signature wine dinners and exclusive tastings across the country. Please stay tuned for more details coming your way soon, as we look forward to sharing these experiences with our members in each state.
WINE OF THE MONTH
THE BOY
EDEN VALLEY RIESLING
After a week like last week, and hot temps across Australia. It feels only right to point you toward something crisp for the fridge.
The Boy is a summer staple around here, grown in cooler conditions just up the hill from the our Cellar Door in Eden Valley, it has an intensity of flavour and beautifully refreshing drive.
So you walk and walk and walk and finally you find a special place with a special vineyard. You walk some more and you taste and you’re excited… 110 year old Riesling vines perched high atop the Eden Valley with an intensity you have never experienced before..…you have found “The Boy”
Best matched with:
Option 1: Fresh Seafood & Citrus
Oysters with lemon, ceviche, or grilled white fish with herbs. The wine’s bright acidity and citrus drive cut cleanly through natural salinity, amplifying freshness and keeping everything light.
Option 2: Aromatic Asian-inspired Dishes
Perfect alongside Vietnamese summer rolls, Thai salads, or lightly spiced noodle dishes. Subtle heat, fresh herbs and lime play beautifully with the Riesling’s minerality and zesty finish.
Option 3: Cheese plate!
A natural match for a relaxed cheese platter featuring ripe pear, soft goat’s cheese, triple cream brie with a handful of nuts and light crackers. The wine’s crisp acidity cuts through creamy textures, keeping the palate fresh and beautifully balanced.
Vanessa grew up in the picturesque Adelaide Hills and moved to the Barossa Valley in 1997. In 2003, she found her way into the wine industry at Murray Street Vineyards, where she played a key role in establishing the cellar door, which opened in 2004. Throughout her career, Vanessa’s roles have been customer-focused, whether working in cellar doors or traveling as a brand ambassador, bringing the winery experience to a wider audience. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys good food and wine with friends and is an avid dancer, performing regularly with a local dance group throughout the year.
12 months since your last Q&A in the 2025 January Newsletter:
What’s a typical day like for you during the busy Summer period?
Busy periods are an energy source, such pleasure to see a full Cellar Door, people enjoying themselves, laughter, conversations, an adrenaline rush of sorts! Plus! Happy knowing I got my steps up and I can skip the gym that night!
Barossa lunch recommendation?
Something substantial: Harvest Kitchen – so fresh, delicious flavours. Shared plates which I love.
Grab and go: Apex Bakery – Can’t go passed the woodfired pasty followed by a chocolate donut
Casual Café: Coco Kitchen – Your plate is full of seasonal goodness
Favourite vineyard, view or spot on the property (and why)?
It has to the lookout at Holy Grail vineyard. I am fortunate to regularly stand there when hosting a Vineyard Experience. The view is like a painted panorama, to see the Barossa landscape changing with the seasons never gets boring and it is so peaceful. Even though I am working when out there, I feel so blessed to call the Barossa home.
What are you most excited about as you head into the year?
Moving into my second year at THW, I am looking forward to taking everyone who visits the cellar door to be part of my journey through sharing the stories behind the wines, vines and beauty that is THW.
What is your favourite Two Hands wine now?
The recent new release of 2019 Lucky Duck Sparkling. Is it wrong not to say Shiraz? The commitment in creating this wine, the passion in creating this wine comes out in the glass. While it is not a Shiraz (and don’t fear, I am more than partial to our great Shiraz's), it’s a wine to share throughout these warmer weeks we are having and to celebrate with those you share it with.
