Simon Hackett Wines is a boutique Australian winery located in the McLaren Vale wine region of South East Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. Founder and winemaker / owner Simon Hackett comes from a family who have been active in the Australian wine industry for four generations. Simon learnt his trade serving an apprenticeship under world-famous Australian winemaker Peter Lehman at the Saltram Winery near Angaston – which just happened to be next door to the Hackett family home. In 1973 he moved to the Southern Vales Co-operative Winery, now known as Tatachilla Wines, where he picked up more useful knowledge from winemaker Grant Burge, later founder of Grant Burge wines, and businessman Ian Wilson who later bought the Krondorf Winery together in the Barossa.
After 8 years working at SVCW Simon Hackett had risen to the rank of senior winemaker but, in 1984, Simon made the decision to strike out on his own and what we now know as Simon Hackett Wines was created. This was very much a boutique wine-making operation and was initially only going to produce a limited amount of wines each year for semi private use – this did not last very long and the company became a full time, serious project within a couple of years.
The next big step for Simon was the acquisition of a winery, the former Taranga winery in McLaren Vale, in 1998. Prior to this he would have been making wines in other peoples wineries where, inevitably, one would have to fit around their schedules. The new winery allowed much more control over the winemaking process and a subsequent increase in quality.
Hackett has some 8 hectares of estate vineyards and also contracts with growers in McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and the Adelaide hills which cover another 32 hectares. Production is now up but rarely surpasses 10,000 cases of wine per year. Simon ferments his wines in open top fermenters and the wines are aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels.
Simon Hackett Wines Available include:
Simon Hackett Brightview Semillon, Barossa Valley – discontinued.
A 100% Semillon made from fruit sourced from the Barossa Valley characterised by tropical fruit and melon aromas with a rich and silky mouthfeel.
Simon Hackett Hills View Shiraz, McLaren Vale
100% Shiraz, a proportion barrel-fermented in second fill American oak hogsheads, then all the wine is aged 10 months in second fill American oak hogsheads.
Simon Hackett Hills View Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale
100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 10 months in 2nd fill American oak barrels.
Simon Hackett Old Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale
Probably Hackett’s biggest selling wine at Fareham Wine Cellar. 100% Grenache aged eight months in second fill 225 litre American oak barrels. Loads of juicy raspberry notes and white pepper spiciness.
Simon Hackett Anthony’s Reserve Shiraz, Limited Release, McLaren Vale
In honour of Simon’s late brother Anthony Hackett, this 100% Shiraz is aged for 24 months in new and second fill predominantly American oak barrels. It is silky rather than robust – typical top quality McLaren Shiraz.
Simon Hackett Foggo Road Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale
Limited edition, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 24 months in new French barrels. Blockbuster Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics kept under control by tight grain oak and good age prior to release.
