The Hamper Emporium 2023 Christmas Catalogue - Catalog - Page 67
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MR. RIGGS
WINES
B E N R IGGS’ STORY
South Australia is home
to many superstars of
the wine world. With that
in mind, it’s no surprise
that Ben Riggs runs
his operation from the
industry’s revered McLaren
Vale. He’s known for his
unpretentious yet complex
range of drops crafted with
a detailed knowledge of
the regions they represent.
Ben’s company Mr. Riggs
Wine Co. was founded in
2001 as a partnership with
his mentor Tony Parkinson.
Previously Ben had cut his
teeth over the course of 13
fruitful years at Wirra Wirra.
He’d also had extensive
international experience,
with Napa Valley, Bordeaux,
Greece, Italy, and the South
of France being just a
few notable stamps in his
professional passport. Now,
it was time to take the
reins.
Today his company has a
reputation for producing
premium wines with plenty
of finesse.
‘14 years at Wirra Wirra
gave me wonderful
exposure to every part
of a small wine business
from dealing with growers,
making wine, employing
and managing staff,
helping design labels, and
dealing with distributors,’
says Ben.
Armed with a healthy dose
of European know-how
paired with an appreciation
of South Australian terroir,
Mr. Riggs Wine Co. has
gone from strength to
strength.
Its achievements so far
have been anything but
modest. Ben’s wines
have won at least 100
awards, and he has been
nominated as the Gourmet
Traveller WINE Winemaker
of the Year in 2005 and
2013 respectively.
2020 brought with it an
accolade that Australian
wine lovers will be suitably
impressed by: Mr. Riggs
was given a five red star
winery rating by the
Halliday Wine Companion
2020.
His wines have been
described as ‘big, rich and
complex’. By no means
lacking in character, they
also achieve a texture and
elegance that’s indicative
of their calibre.
When it comes to choosing
a South Australia wine,
one can never claim the
pickings are slim. Mr.
Riggs Wine Co. is a serious
contender on a playing
field that’s truly abundant
with talent.
