Phil & Sarah’s home, Boongarrie Estate, is a 120 hectare property in the Eden Valley, in the Barossa Ranges. The sedimentary soils are thin and underlain with rose quartz and siltstone; the landscape is undulating, studded with ancient redgums and rocky outcrops.
The elevation tempers the summer heat, and provides cool air flow during the nights, ideal for nuanced and mineral flavours in the wines.
On suitable sites within the property, 25 acres is planted to vineyard (half Shiraz and half Cabernet Sauvignon est. 1998), and a 10 acre Olive grove planted to Manzanilla Cacerena, Koroneiki and Kalamata (est 2002).
MAX & ME's philosophy for managing the land is to look after the soils and use minimal chemical inputs; biodiversity in midrow grass and weed populations is encouraged and pest and disease pressures are minimal. Sheep and cattle graze the vineyard grasses during winter, and European species of dung-beetles have been introduced to recycle the animal manure as fertiliser, improving the fertility, water retention and structure.
MAX & ME is small-batch wines and olive oil, centred on Boongarrie Estate, in the Eden Valley in the Central-East of the Barossa Ranges.