Spinifex was founded in 2001 by Magali Gely and Peter Schell, combining deep generational roots in southern France with broad international winemaking experience. Their position has always been clear. The vineyard is paramount, and the role of the winery is to translate site rather than impose upon it. The wines reflect Barossa’s natural richness while maintaining balance, clarity and drinkability.
Schell was an early advocate for a different expression of the Barossa, recognising that power required no encouragement. His focus shifted to perfume, finesse and ease of drinking, built on earlier picking, lower Baumé fruit and the use of large format or neutral oak. Alongside this came a commitment to older vineyard material and a broader view of the region’s potential, including the production of precise, energetic rosé and white wines.
This thinking now extends across both estate and grower sites. The Rostein Vineyard in Eden Valley brings a cooler, elevated perspective, while the Dominion Vineyard at Vine Vale centres on old vine Grenache and Shiraz planted in 1910 and 1918. Farming is meticulous and entirely manual, with no synthetic inputs, no irrigation and a strong emphasis on soil health.
Two decades in, the style remains consistent. The wines show generosity and texture, shaped by freshness, line and controlled structure. They present the Barossa with clarity and composure, delivering depth without excess.