Discover Spinifex Pack

• 2025 Spinifex Papillon
• 2022 Spinifex La Cigale
• 2022 Spinifex Garcon Grenache
• 2024 Spinifex Tempranillo
• 2023 Spinifex Esprit
• 2023 Spinifex Syrah

2025 Spinifex Papillon

Peter Schell's Papillon is one of the most gluggable reds in the Barossa Valley!

The Spinifex wines cover a wide spectrum, from rich, full-throttled old vine Shiraz all the way to this, a light bodied, energetic Grenache Cinsault blend made for easy day-time drinking.

These styles are certainly in vogue but as usual, winemaking wizard Schell’s winemaking know-how elevates Papillon far beyond your average light red. Sourced from old, dry-grown vines (many over 70 years old) across the Barossa and Eden Valleys, it combines purity of fruit with layers of complexity

Papillon is one of our go-to's and just unbeatable value. What a producer Spinifex is.

2022 Spinifex La Cigale

The 2022 Spinifex La Cigale is a nod to the easygoing wines of the Mediterranean, made with Barossa fruit and a simple, thoughtful approach. Inspired by Pete Schell’s time in Provence, it’s crafted to be fresh, versatile, and easy to enjoy.

A blend of Mataro (56%), Cinsault (24%), and Grenache (20%), this wine draws from old, dry-grown vines across the Barossa, with some blocks over 100 years old. The fruit was fermented with a mix of whole berries and whole bunches, then matured for 10 months in a combination of concrete, steel, and seasoned oak, preserving its vibrant character.

On the nose and palate, it’s all about bright red and blue fruits, a gentle savoury edge, and a touch of spice. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity and fine tannins, it’s a wine that works as easily with food as it does on its own.

Uncomplicated but full of character, La Cigale is a relaxed, drink-now red that pairs beautifully with anything from grilled vegetables to slow-roasted lamb.

A thoughtful blend that’s all about balance, flavour, and everyday enjoyment.

93 points
"This year's release sees a blend of 56/24/20% mataro/cinsault/grenache. Red plum, red cherry and raspberry fruits with some cranberry high tones and hints of exotic spice, amaro, drying meadow flowers, dried citrus rind, biltong and ginger. Febrile and filigreed with a snappy, spacious mouthfeel and line, some sour cherry and red plum acidity swooping up at the back end. Great drinking."
- Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)

2022 Spinifex Garcon Grenache

The Garcon is Peter Schell's top value Barossa Grenache pegged as a pigeon pair alongside his fantastic Barossa Syrah.

Schell is a Grenache master, subtly coaxing out all of the softness and energy that Grenache grown in this region can display when it's picked and treated just right.

In his own words, Schell dubs this,"a celebration of the variety from its spiritual home in Australia."

He just doesn't miss when it comes to this variety. It's bright, floral and exceptionally seductive. A fantastic buy for those enjoying the modern Grenache revolution that's currently underway right across SA.

2024 Spinifex Tempranillo

While Spinifex has certainly amassed a formidable reputation for producing some of the country's leading examples of Rhone-inspired reds and whites, Peter Schell is no slouch with when it comes to knocking out a top-notch example of an emerging variety either.

This is a single vineyard Tempranillo from the foothills of the Barossa Valley. It's picked early, destemmed, fermented wild and bottled without fining or filtration. This release from the Spinifex duo is as you might expect, a combination of just the right amount of precision and drinkability.

With this release, Pete is searching for freshness and varietal character - he's nailed it.

A great addition to the Spinifex range and yet another feather in Pete's very feathery cap.

2023 Spinifex Esprit

When Pete Schell started Spinifex back in 2001, wines like Esprit completely changed the conversation about what the Barossa could be. It shifted the focus away from sheer power and moved it toward perfume, finesse, and structure. Fast forward to the 2023 release, and it’s still one of the most compelling Grenache blends in the country, especially when you consider the pedigree of the fruit.

Pete sources this from eight different patches of dirt across the valley, including spots in Ebenezer and Williamstown. Some serious history here - the vine age ranges from 75 to over 150 years old. While the blend moves around occasionally, the Grenache was so strong this year that it really had to be the hero. It makes up over 80% of the blend, rounded out with bits of Shiraz, Counoise, and Cinsault.

It's textbook Spinifex winemaking, using wild yeasts and seasoned oak so the fruit does the talking. It’s not a heavy, syrupy red; instead, it’s deeply characterful and complex with a lovely savoury edge.

If you’re a fan of old-vine Barossa reds that prioritise character over brute force, this is exactly what you should be looking for. Honestly, for the price, it’s hard to find anything else in the region that comes close to this level of quality.

2023 Spinifex Syrah

Pete Schell has a real knack for showing a different side of the Barossa. While the region is famous for high-octane Shiraz, this Syrah is all about elegance and perfume. It’s essentially the lighter, more floral sibling to his bolder reds, sourced from about ten different plots across both the Barossa and the higher, cooler sites of the Eden Valley.

The vines range from 25 to 100 years old, but Pete picks the fruit a bit earlier to keep that bright, crunchy energy. In the cellar, he uses a mix of stainless steel, concrete, and large seasoned oak to let the wine breathe. He's always said it's far easier to overdo it than underdo it in the Barossa, so he takes a back seat here.

The 2023 is exactly what you want from this style - it’s savoury and lifted, full of dark berries, cracked pepper, and a bit of earthy spice. It’s got these fine, sinewy tannins and a fresh hit of acidity that makes it incredibly moreish.

If you’re after a Barossa red that feels sophisticated rather than heavy, this is the one. It’s stellar value for a wine with this much pedigree behind it and one of our go-to reds of the Barossa.