Ada Wine Co.

James and Sherrie Ellis launched Ada (short for Adelaide) Wine Co. in ’19, the same year James joined Gentle Folk (see separate listing) as assistant winemaker and vineyard manager. His employer is mentioned purely to emphasise the similarities in philosophy. Like Gareth Belton, James crafts textured, terroir-driven wines using lo-fi methods although, where Gentle Folk is focused on the Adelaide Hills, James looks to the whole of South Australia: McLaren Vale for grenache and shiraz; Eden Valley for riesling; and the Hills for pinot noir and chardonnay. How the fruit has been farmed is arguably more important than where it’s been grown though – James works exclusively with organic and biodynamic growers. -ANNA WEBSTER