There is a new wine on the Heathcote Shiraz scene. Released on Monday, May 8, the story behind the drop is enough to warm the cockles of any wine lover’s heart.
Only 2000 bottles of cricket legend Allan Border’s ‘Maiden Tonne’ Shiraz were released by Sanguine Estate Winery.
The release marks the first collaboration for Sanguine Estate with the blend handcrafted by Mr Border and his wife.
Named ‘Maiden Tonne’, the wine references Mr Border’s first century against Pakistan at the MCG in 1979.
That first ton proved to the Australian selectors Mr Border was worth his place in the team.
Now, he hopes the new Shiraz proves to the Australian wine industry just how good Sanguine Estate is.
Sanguine Estate chief executive Jodi Marsh relayed the story of how the collaboration came to be.
The relationship between Mr Border and Jodi’s father, Tony Hunter, was sparked by mutual friend and cricket legend Dean Jones.
Mr Hunter would play golf with Mr Jones at Heathcote Golf Club and the two shared a love of a good drop.
Soon, Mr Jones suggested that Mr Border get involved and they both create a wine.
“The whole concept at the beginning was just this idea of two mates having a fun friendly competition,” Ms Marsh said.
“The banter between Dean Jones and Allan Border was hilarious, you could see that they were just great mates and for us it became this really fun project for the family and for them this was what it was about too.
“Unfortunately and sadly Dean Jones passed away during the COVID years.”
After some time, Sanguine Estate and Mr Border rekindled the project and a friendship between the families bloomed.
Mr Border said that it was Mr Jones who encouraged him to enjoy a red wine in the first place.
“Before Deano passed, he introduced me to my first ever Sanguine Shiraz,” he said.
“We shared a bottle of Sanguine D’Orsa at his home in Romsey and he said it came from his good mate Tony Hunter.
“From there, I met Tony and I have developed a very close and deep relationship with the whole family.”
Although Mr Border and his wife call Queensland home, a friendship between the two families has blossomed.
The Borders have enjoyed stays at the vineyard beyond the making of the blend.
The wine is a passion project made for those who love cricket, family and exceptional wine. It is designed to be a collector’s item, with a limit of two bottles per customer.