Winery Spotlight - Ricca Terra

March 14, 2021 2 min read

Ok - we admit it. Riverlands is hardly a region to get you hot under the collar with respect to quality wine but times are changing.

Ashely & Holly Ratcliffe established their first Ricca Terra vineyards in the region back in 2003. They quickly formed they view that it was Southern Italian, Spanish and Portuguese varietals that would work best in a warm dry climate - not traditional Australian classics. Makes a lot of sense when you stop and think about it. If you want to source the likes of Arinto and Tinta Barroca, honestly, Ricca Terra is your only option for Australian-made!

All wines Vegan- Friendly.

Since that time Ricca Terra's reputation as a leader for the region and 'alternative' grapes has grown steadily and now hit some very impressive levels. How's this for a highlights reel:

Trophy - Most Exciting Wine @ Australian Italian Varieties Wine Show 2020

Top 10 'Upcoming Wineries' - James Halliday Wine Companion

Gourmet Traveller 'Viticulturalist of the Year'

ABC’s Horticulturist of the Year,

Riverland’s Winemaker of the Year award

The professional reviewers are falling over themselves when it comes to this winery:

"they are among the most interesting wines to come my way lately.”
(Huon Hooke)

"Ashley Ratcliff is going great guns in championing a range of alternative varieties" (Tony Love)

So if Italian / Spanish / Portugese varieties is your thing, but you want to support Australian producers, then you can't go past Ricca Terra. While the range is quite large, your good folk at Cloudwine have picked the eyes out of these wines and today offer a selection of the most impressive. Not expensive, a little different and very good.

Ricca Terra Aglianico 2019 $23.99

Trophy – Most Exciting Wine -Australian Italian Varieties Wine Show 2020
94 points at the Australian Wine Showcase Awards.

Ricca Terra ‘Bronco Buster’ White Blend 2020 (Fiano Vermentino Greco)
Trophy – Best Italian Variety Australian Alternative Wine Show 2020
Trophy – Best White Blend-Australian Alternative Variety Wine Show 2020

"Medium-intense green and gold colour. Smells like a freshly-baked peach pie. The palate shows rich stone fruits, short-crust pastry and a creamy note. All fills and flows through the mouth with a richness, but then a zip of salinity and acid cleans it up nicely. No single variety sticks out in the blend either." Stuart Knox - The Real Review.

Ricca Terra 'Colour of Calmness' Rose 2020
Trophy – Best Rosé
Riverland Wine Show 2020

"Peach skin pink colour. The aromas are intoxicating, wild flowers, baking spices, red berries and pastry. A delightful rosé, dry, savoury and moreish. Medium-bodied with a hint of grip and a sleek mouth-feel." Amanda Yallop - The Real Review.

Ricca Terra Tinta Barroca 2018
Tinta Barroca is almost unknown in Australia. It is renowned in Portugal as a variety used to make port. Ashley Ratcliff had noticed Tinta Barocca during a visit to the Riverland Vine Improvement Committee’s vineyard in Monash, South Australia. He observed it was an early ripening red grape variety, with rich flavours and firm tannins. The subconscious thought Ashley had was ‘why had this grape variety been overlooked by winemakers in Australia?’

Winery Spotlight - Ricca Terra

Special Wine Offers