After graduating from Roseworthy Steve went to work with John Hancock at Morton Estate before setting up the Thornbury label. In 2005, Steve Bird Wines was founded and remained a small family-owned and operated business.
Big Barrel Pinot Noir is Steve's signature bottling. He employs the 'Vernou Roll' fermentation method where he uses 1,000L oak fudres for fermentation and maturation, and the process involves gently rolling the barrels. This results in a gentle extraction of colour and tannins from the grapes and greater integration of the oak, flavour, phenolics and tannin componentry, as well as greater detail, texture and complexities. The fruit of Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from the Wairau Valley on a stony, alluvial site, classical in expression.
Here, I review his new release Sauvignon Blanc 2021 and Big Barrel Pinot Noir 2019.
