August Newsletter 2026 | Instinctively Curious
Aug 19, 2026
Welcome to the August edition of Instinctively Curious, the Two Hands newsletter.
It's been a cold, wet Winter and we are all eagerly waiting for the warmer Spring weather. The last month has a been a busy time right across the Two Hands team and we are always keen to share with you our latest news and what is coming up.
Pour yourself a glass of your favourite Two Hands wine, pop on one of our cellar door Spotify playlists and enjoy this month's edition of Instinctively Curious.
IN CELLAR DOOR
At Cellar Door, we’ve been enjoying the recent release of our 2021 Flagship Series. It was an exceptional vintage, and it’s exciting to finally share these wines and see them being discovered and enjoyed.
A particularly special part of this release is Adrestia. Since its first vintage, Adrestia has been our Flagship white wine, traditionally made in a classic white Bordeaux style from an oak-aged blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
In 2021, however, an opportunity presented itself. We were able to source some exceptional Chardonnay from a different block within the Hell Freezes Over vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. The quality of the fruit immediately stood out and gave us the opportunity to reimagine Adrestia while remaining true to its place at the pinnacle of our white wine portfolio.
The result is a new expression of Adrestia: still unmistakably our Flagship white, but now built around Chardonnay and representing what we believe to be the very best white wine available to us in that exceptional 2021 vintage.
Before the release, our winemakers Richard & Jett did a full tasting and technical briefing on the series with Luke, Vanessa, Elaine and Morgan. Ensuring the team is ready to share the complete story of this esteemed lineup and answering all their questions. What can we say, the wines look incredible and we cannot wait for you to try them.
If you are visiting us in Marananga this month, be sure to ask about tasting Ares. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience one of the Flagship wines in its early release window.
IN THE WINERY
The 2026 wines continue to reveal themselves through barrel tastings. Recently, Richard, Jett and Peter tasted their way through all the individual blocks from Holy Grail Vineyard, beginning the detailed process of barrel selection.
These tastings are an essential early step in understanding the personality of each block: its fruit expression, structure, tannin profile and potential place within the final wines. It is meticulous work, but one of the most exciting parts of the winemaking year as the first picture of the vintage begins to emerge.
Also in very important winery news, Quinn, Richard’s Springer Spaniel, is taking a well-earned break from winery dog duties after welcoming her second litter of puppies! While Ollie continues to keep Richard company at the winery, Quinn and her very cute new crew are ensuring he has plenty to keep him busy once the working day is done.
IN THE VINEYARD
Winter means pruning season in the vineyard, and Peter, Lara and Shelby are deep into the mammoth task of working vine by vine through Kraehe House, Coach House and Holy Grail (with Chip staying warm in the car). Every cut is made by hand, setting the foundation for the season ahead and ensuring each block is balanced for the best possible fruit.
Our 100 year old vines beside Cellar Door are spur pruned, retaining short shoots on their permanent arms. At Holy Grail, the team uses cane pruning, selecting and tying down new fruiting canes each year for precise control over bud numbers and vine balance.
The younger blocks at Holy Grail, now ten years old, are being trained using a Guyot system in an “M” shape, a method Peter has used for the past two years to encourage balanced yields, structured spring growth, and better airflow and sun exposure around the fruit.
The recent rain has also been a very welcome boost, with 104mm received to date. It is replenishing deep soil moisture, hydrating the dormant vines and helping build reserves for the dry summer ahead. It also keeps our mid-row cover crops healthy as they improve soil structure and support the vineyard naturally.
EVENTS
For the last two dinners of the year, we’re showcasing something particularly special, the complete 2021 Flagship Series, presented together over the course of the evening. The 2021 vintage was an exceptional one across South Australia, delivering wines with remarkable depth, balance and purity. It gave us four wines worthy of our Flagship Series, and this dinner will be an opportunity to experience them all:
Adelaide Dinner
Friday 25 September 2026
Orso | Kensington Rd, Rose Park
BOOK YOUR TICKETS
"Orso sits in the leafy streets of Rose Park, five minutes from the city. Opened in 2018 by Andre Ursini, the building dates to 1894... A modern European restaurant at heart, the cooking is rooted in fire and guided by season — produce sourced from Andre's farm in the Adelaide Hills, handled with care, and brought to the table in dishes designed to be shared alongside a wine list worth exploring." - Orso
Brisbane Dinner
Thursday 22 October 2026
Black Hide | Queens Wharf
BOOK YOUR TICKETS
"Experience innovative dining sophistication at Black Hide Steak & Seafood by Gambaro... Expanding on the traditions of the heritage Black Hide restaurants, the new look signature dining venue is located at the most exciting restaurant and entertainment destination in Brisbane." - Black Hide
Luke is also heading to QLD with Davis & White for a series of tastings next month. If you are on the Gold Coast, in Brisbane or on the Sunshine Coast, we would love to see you there. Final tickets are available now, follow the link for each event below.
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
ON THE ROAD WITH PIERRE-HENRI
General Manager & Proprietor, Pierre spent three days in Tasmania last week on a trade visit, catching up with our wonderful customers in both Launceston and Hobart. They had a great lunch at Steve’s Grill @ The Centennial with 2022 Bella, Lily and Samantha's Garden, followed by 2021 Holy Grail Shiraz with the tomahawk, which was a particular highlight.
WINE OF THE MONTH
2025 YESTERDAY'S HERO GRENACHE
Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale
New vintage release!
A much loved label first created in 2003. The name Yesterday’s Hero references the classic John Paul Young song, telling the story of a once-gloried boxer who has faded from the spotlight. For Two Hands, the connection is Grenache itself. Long used as the backbone of many great Australian red wines in the 1960s and 1970s, Grenache rarely received the recognition it deserved. Today, it is back in the ring and fighting for its rightful place in the Australian wine scene.
Bright, aromatic and beautifully drinkable, Yesterday’s Hero offers lifted red fruits, spice and a silky, medium-bodied palate. This fresh, modern McLaren Vale Grenache is perfect shared with good food and great company.
Best cheese pairing: Match it with an aged Manchego. Its bold, nutty, savoury richness complements the wine’s bright red berries and gentle spice without overwhelming its silky finish. Serve at room temperature with quince paste (being in the Barossa, it has to be Maggie Beer's surely) and a handful of roasted almonds.
Best TV series pairing: If going with our sporting theme, then it has to be the highly anticipated season 4 of Ted Lasso. OR A Thousand Blows if sticking with boxing.
Best music pairing: Obviously John Paul Young - Yesterday's Hero... failing that, Heroes by David Bowie or My Hero by Foo Fighters.
This month, we are delighted to introduce the newest member of the Two Hands team: Shelby.
Growing up in the coastal town of Robe on SA's Limestone Coast, Shelby was introduced to wine from an early age. With her dad working as Vineyard Manager at Mount Benson, she developed a fascination for vineyards and the passion shared by the people who work in the wine industry. After graduating from the University of Adelaide with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology last year, Shelby completed the 26' Barossa vintage before joining our team in June. Outside the winery, she enjoys sharing wine with friends, especially Nebbiolo, practising yoga, and going to the beach (little tricky here in Barossa) so holds out for making the trip home to Robe where the iconic 14-kilometre Long Beach is.
Follow us on Spotify and settle into our Cellar Door playlists
While our Highlander cows are right at home in the cool weather with their shaggy coats, at home pour something warming, turning up the volume and embrace the season. This month’s selection comes courtesy of Brutus 🍷
