The GHAMMER Story

1842 | The Vineyard Beginning

The winery’s vineyard history is traced to 1842, when Gerret Jame established a vineyard at Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale. The latest brand information states that the oldest surviving vines are 127 years old. The first wine from the vineyard was produced in 1844.

1947 | An Independent Ghammer Brand Record

In 1947, Ghammer participated in an Australian small agricultural exhibition as an independent brand and received a gold medal.

Recognition and Awards

A 2012 report in Australia’s The Age recorded Ghammer in the Good Food Guide as Australia’s Winery of the Year. In 2018, the Australian Wine Winemakers Association recorded a winemaker score of 96 points for a 2015 Ghammer Reserve Shiraz.

According to the latest brand information supplied by the client, GHAMMER has received awards from GWA (Global Wine & Spirits Awards), ITWA (International Wine Tasting Awards) and AWMA (Aurelrs Wine Merit Award). The same source states that the winery was named Winery of the Year for three consecutive years and that multiple wines received Platinum, Gold and Silver medals with scores above 90 points.

South Australian Regions and Cooperation

GHAMMER’s independent and cooperative vineyards are described as being located across Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Limestone Coast and Riverland.

The latest brand information also states that GHAMMER has a long-term strategic cooperation with Mirus in Barossa Valley to jointly develop the “Trivium” red five-star winery project.

Winemaking Consultant and Philosophy

Current winemaking consultant Matt Broomhead is described as focusing on respect for terroir and detailed vineyard management. The latest supplied brand information states that winemaking vines are required to be over 20 years old, with an average vine age of 34 years; basket pressing, wild yeast and malolactic fermentation are commonly used with an emphasis on avoiding excessive intervention. French or American oak is selected according to regional conditions.

Australian wine critic James Halliday is quoted in the supplied brand information as saying of Matt Broomhead: “I am very confident that Matt Broomhead’s adventurous spirit is destined to forge greatness in the years ahead.”