Cellarhand Protero

About Protero

Back in 2004, Stephen Pannell's family returned from Piedmont to find Nebbiolo growing in the northern Adelaide Hills just outside Gumeracha, on a vineyard planted by Rose and Frank Baldasso in 1999. Steve started working with the fruit in 2005. The dynamics of tannin, first and foremost, drive all of Stephen’s red-winemaking decisions, and good Nebbiolo hinges on understanding tannin. In late December 2019 Fiona and Steve signed a contract for the Baldasso’s vineyard. It was planted to all the wrong varieties bar one: five clones of Nebbiolo. A week later, it was on fire, and only through the courage of others was Protero spared. Surrounded by brave people, the Pannells knew they too had to be courageous. To that end they removed Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Viognier and planted varieties we like drinking and believe in for the region: Barbera, Dolcetto, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Riesling. All well suited to the landscape, the region and in particular this place, Protero.

About Stephen Pannell

Stephen Pannell has twice won Australia’s most prestigious wine award, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy – most recently in 2014 for his 2013 Adelaide Hills Syrah – and his reputation is further hinted at by his being named one of the 50 most inﬂuential contributors to the world of wine by Decanter Magazine.
He earned his stripes working with some Australia’s iconic wineries including Wirra Wirra, Hardy’s Tintara and BRL Hardy, where he was Chief Red Winemaker from 1999 to 2003. He has worked numerous overseas vintages at such places as Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Burgundy, Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux and G.D. Vajra in Barolo.
In 2014, Steve won his second Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy and further cemented his relationship with the great grapegrowing region that is South Australia by setting up a cellar door in the heart of McLaren Vale. His local legend status has been confirmed again and again, winning the Bushing Trophy for best red wine of show in McLaren Vale no less than four times: 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2018.

Current Range

2019 Protero Capo Nebbiolo

Protero

2020 Protero Barbera

Protero

2022 Protero Aromatico

Protero

2024 Protero Pinots

Protero

2021 Protero Nebbiolo

Protero

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