July Newsletter 2026 | Instinctively Curious
Jul 15, 2026
Welcome to the July edition of Instinctively Curious.
This month is one of our favourites in the calendar year because Thursday the 23rd of July marks International Shiraz Day. As Shiraz specialists, it's a date that means a little more to us than most. For over 25 years, we've dedicated ourselves to exploring what this remarkable grape can express, from approachable favourites like Gnarly Dudes through to our Flagship Ares. If there was ever a day to pull the cork on a great bottle of Shiraz, this is it.
While many of you are rugged up around Australia, winter has arrived in spectacular fashion here in the Barossa. The Seppeltsfield and Marananga area, home to both our Cellar Door and Holy Grail Vineyard, have already received an incredible 104mm of rainfall since the start of June. Our Viticulturist, Peter, summed it up in his own words: "It's bloody awesome." Peter is especially encouraged that this winter is shaping up much like 2023, with consistent rainfall and excellent soil conditions across our western Barossa vineyards. After several drier seasons, seeing the landscape transform back to vibrant green is a welcome sight and one that gives the entire team plenty to smile about.
IN THE WINERY
This month Richard and Jett have been working their way through barrel samples.
The day these photos were taken, they were tasting through 33 samples, covering all of our 2026 white varietals, which will become the Trusty Rusty Rosé, along with some Grenache and Mataro parcels. The whites and rosé give us our first real look at the freshness and detail of the 2026 vintage, some wines are already showing their direction clearly, while others will continue to evolve over the coming months as they settle and mature.
We also celebrated 'Take Your Dog to Work Day' this month. However, Ollie and Quinn are here onsite pretty much every Monday-Thursday when Richard is here. Quinn also had her second litter of puppies two weeks ago! Very cute!
IN CELLAR DOOR
This month, we have a little extra Gnarly Dudes fun. We recently worked with our friends at OzStickerPrinting to create custom Gnarly Dudes stickers, after they helped us print custom labels for a customer’s bespoke order. They turned out brilliantly, and we think they deserve to travel.
If you are the kind of person who loves covering your suitcase, laptop case, wine fridge or notebook in stickers, these are great to rep your love of Gnarly Dudes and Two Hands. If you order some wines online over the next couple of weeks, you might just find a sticker in your box!
For corporate orders, gifting, events or special occasions, we can also look at adding custom stickers to make your Two Hands order feel even more personal. Perfect for client gifts, get in touch with us at mail@twohandswines.com
EVENTS
We are back on the road this week, heading west for a very good week of wine, food and friendly faces in Perth. There might be a few complimentary tickets left for the Perth Good Food & Wine Show, so if you haven't grabbed yours yet, try this link and come try some wines with Luke & Vanessa.
QUEENSLAND EVENTS
Looking ahead, September will see us heading to Queensland as part of the Back to Barossa tasting series with Davis & White. These events bring the Barossa to Queensland, with more than 20 producers across four locations. Get your tickets HERE!
Thursday 3 September 2026
Back to Barossa | Brisbane
Blackbird Brisbane, QLD
Friday 4 September 2026
Back to Barossa | Gold Coast
Southport Yacht Club, Gold Coast, QLD
Saturday 5 September 2026
Back to Barossa | Sunshine Coast
The Wharf Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Sunday 6 September 2026
Back to Barossa | Brisbane
Stratton Bar & Kitchen, Newstead, QLD
IN THE VINEYARD
Holy Grail received 38mm of rain in the very first week of winter! and it has kept coming. After a few dry growing seasons, this is exactly what we want to see. Winter rainfall helps replenish the soil profile while the vines are dormant, giving them access to deeper moisture reserves when they begin to wake up again in spring.
Pete and Lara have also welcomed a new team member, Shelby, to the team. There is plenty to learn across our estate blocks; Holy Grail and Kraehe House through to Coach House, and winter is a great time to get familiar with each site before the pace lifts again later in the year. Shelby has joined at a perfect time in the season to see the vineyard from the ground up, as pruning is slowly starting to begin at the Kraehe House block next to Cellar Door and nature trail where our highlander cows watch cloesly.
And in very important Holy Grail news, we have welcomed another new baby cow to the fold! Lara has decided to name him Stevie, and will decide whether its after Stevie Wonder or Stevie Nicks once the vet has visited to know if we have a little bull or heifer.
The 2027 Halliday People's Choice Award – Vote now
The annual Halliday Wine Companion Awards recognise the best of the best from across Australia's wine industry, and the People's Choice Award is a chance for you to have your say and vote for your favourite winery experience.
Vote for us! Submit your vote before 11.59pm, Friday July 31 and go in the running to win the amazing prize from their team. VOTE HERE or click the above image.
WINTER CHOICES
Wait by your phone!
A couple of times each year, our team puts together some exclusive and rare offers for our loyal customers. These offers will only be available over the phone, with the team contacting everyone over the next few weeks. There is a special pre-release of 2023 Garden Series and a mixed Twelftree pack of select vintages from the cellar. Plus much more! Our team will be calling from 08 8166 5159, so if you see this number pop-up you know its from us.
Don't worry, if you have already expressed you would rather not be contacted by phone, then you won't be!
WINE OF THE MONTH
ARES
Barossa Valley Shiraz
2021 ARES
96 Points
"The 2021 Ares Shiraz is silty and dark, spicy and persistent. The palate is attractively mineral and layered with notes of graphite, sweet pouch tobacco, blackberry and licorice. The length is very good too. This is a lovely wine. The monstrously heavy bottle suggests a wine possessed of a bigger ego (i.e., more aggressively extracted, more oak, more fruit, more everything), yet this feels decidedly effortless and earthy. It is very good. 14.3% alcohol, sealed under Diam." Drink Date:2026 - 2041 - Erin Larkin | Wine Advocate
2021 Ares will be available from the 23rd of July to celebrate International Shiraz Day. Being the highly anticipated 2021 vintage, a fitting celebration of Australia's most iconic grape variety.
Jo has never been particularly good at standing still. A former Navy sailor who has lived in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Kalgoorlie and even spent time calling a ship home, she's collected experiences and a few frequent flyer points along the way. These days, she splits her time between dance & cheer with her family. As a mum of three daughters, she's spent years mastering the art of organisation, multitasking and getting people where they need to be on time. With a knack for finding adventure wherever life takes her and a well-established love of a good Shiraz, Jo fits into Team Two Hands perfectly.
Q&A:
Having your own dance and cheer classes and working full time, life must be busy. What's your secret to staying organised?
Organised Chaos is my life 😊
I make sure that I have an accountability buddy, my business partner (who is also my eldest daughter) and I check in regularly and keep a list of things to do on an organisational app that we share. Teaching dance and now cheer is my passion and it's not like work
What is your favourite thing about the Barossa?
We have so many awesome places to visit and so much history.
When friends visit from out of town, where do you always take them?
The Whispering Wall is always on my list and of course the Two Hands Cellar Door 😉
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Two Hands team?
The camaraderie, we have a great team who all get along well and are always ready to have a chat and a laugh, whilst obviously getting our work done! I really enjoy working in the Cellar Door as well as the office as it is a chance for me to meet some of our awesome Wine Club members and other customers, which is a great cross over for me in the Wine Club Ambassador roll in the office.
