Dean Hewitson founded his winery in 1998, following a long, Australian-style walkabout through the world of wine. He traveled across France, working harvests in Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Champagne, then supplemented his Australian winemaking degree with a Master’s Degree from California’s UC Davis. His diverse vineyard holdings include an ancient stand of Mourvèdre dating to 1883—the oldest-known surviving planting of the variety. 

Located in the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Eden Valley is considered a “subzone” of the famed Barossa Valley. Located northeast of the city of Adelaide, its best vineyards climb to altitudes of 400-500 meters, in mineral-rich soils of ferrous loam over shale. Hewitson’s source vineyard for “Gun Metal” faces east, which shields it from hot afternoon sun and lengthens the maturation cycle.

Pale straw in the glass with greenish tints, this has all the classic “markers” of Eden Valley Riesling: assertive notes of Kaffir lime, white flowers, aromatic herbs, and wet stone. The wine’s name references the weathered grey stone found in the vineyard, as well as the wine’s “power-dry” finish. A great wine for Thai green curry or fish tacos drizzled with lime.