Small Beginnings, Big Heart
Small for some, but monumental for us, our winemaking journey began in 2005 with a one-tonne-per-hour crusher, a few buckets, and a whole lot of drive. Launching in the midst of the GFC, we couldn’t have predicted the winding path ahead. And yet, here we are: twenty vintages later, still passionately making wine in an industry that, while at times turbulent and vulnerable, continues to inspire us daily. We’ve long felt the need to mark this milestone, not just as a celebration, but as a moment to reflect, acknowledge, and honour the resilience of our journey and of the broader wine community. As we look ahead, our hope is to shed some light, to celebrate the future of Australian wine and help keep the spark alive. To make sure the passion that drives us doesn’t dim, but grows. And to play a small part in protecting and strengthening the industry we all love, so we can keep doing what we do, day in, day out, with pride, purpose, and joy.
By Susan Papps (Yelland) 1st June 2025
Limited Cuvée Philosophy
The Barossa Valley is rightly celebrated for Shiraz and Grenache, but for Susan & Michael, Roussanne is the white variety that truly belongs here also, thriving in the region’s warm climate and diverse soils. The Limited Cuvée wines are rare, small-parcel releases made only in select vintages, when certain vineyard blocks show exceptional character and distinction. These wines reflect the unique potential of sites that, in standout years, reward above and beyond expectation. Opulent yet restrained, these wines are traditionally made. Wild-fermented and matured in new French oak before classification. Susan & Michael’s intent is to capture the most elegant, expressive fruit from each vintage, creating wines of structure, finesse, and immediacy. Crafted for quality, not quantity, Limited Cuvée wines are made to drink beautifully on release, yet will also reward careful cellaring.
2024 Limited Cuvée Grenache 2024 rrp $129
Marananga | Planted 1935 | Bushvine | Dry Grown | Grower: Bob Modra
From a derelict, dry-grown block of 1935 bushvines in Marananga, rare survivors clinging to deep red soils—this wine captures both the muscular power and fine-boned elegance old vine Grenache can deliver. Grown by Bob Modra, this vineyard typically yields next to nothing, but in 2024, we were gifted just enough fruit to fill a single French oak barrel. Wild-fermented with minimal intervention and matured in subtle new oak, this is pure, old vine expression: layers of black raspberry, blood plum, ironstone, and wild herbs wrapped in sinewy tannins and restrained spice. A wine of gravitas and grace, born of resilience, made with reverence.
Yelland & Papps Limited Cuvée Shiraz 2023 rrp $129
Greenock | Planted 1960s | Grower: David Materne
Sourced from a dry-grown Greenock block planted in the 1960s and farmed by fourth-generation grower David Materne, this is a vineyard we’ve quietly admired for years. When the opportunity to work with this fruit arose in 2019, we jumped at it, and year after year, it continues to surprise us. Affectionately known as The Old Bamboo, this site consistently delivers fruit of remarkable depth, balance, and vibrancy. The 2023 vintage shows refined structure, amplified by oak-driven depth and beautifully preserved finesse. Wild yeast fermented, basket pressed, and matured in tight-grain French oak, the wine reveals layers of black plum, dark cocoa, ironstone, and warm spice. Silken tannins and restrained power frame the wine’s generous fruit core. A confident,cellar-worthy Shiraz that speaks of site, grower, and time.
SINGLE VINEYARD
The Power of Place
For many winemakers, the pursuit of a single site has always held the deepest meaning—a chance to capture a vineyard’s character, year in and year out. It’s something we both yearn for and deeply respect. While blending is a vital part of the winemaking craft, the purest expression of terroir comes when the site is allowed to speak without interruption. When farming, fruit, and minimal intervention align, the result is something unmistakable: a wine that reflects not just the season, but the soul of the place it comes from.
Yelland & Papps Single Vineyard Roussanne 2024 rrp $49
Greenock | Barossa Valley | Planted 2000 | Free Run Juice | Grower: David Materne
Roussanne holds a special place in our hearts, a varietal we believe belongs in the Barossa, where warm days and cool nights offer the perfect framework for textured,age-worthy white wine. Grown by David Materne on a single vineyard at Greenock, this 2024 release is crafted entirely from free run juice, wild fermented and matured in a balance of new and seasoned French oak puncheons. Regular bâtonnage adds layered complexity, lending weight and creamy texture without compromising line or freshness. This is a serious white, built to cellar, with the structure, precision, and quiet power to sit confidently alongside the region’s benchmark reds. Ripe stone fruit, chamomile, flint, and fine oak spice carry through a long, savoury finish.
We’re pleased to announce that from the 2024 vintage onward, all Yelland & Papps Single Vineyard wines will be bottled under QORK XPUR, Amorim’s most advanced micro-granulated cork—guaranteed TCA-free, precision-controlled, and carbon negative. -SUSAN & MICHAEL PAPPS
Single Vineyard Cinsault Mourvèdre Rosé 2024 rrp 43
Stone Well | Barossa Valley | Planted 2018/2000 | Provence-Inspired | Grower: Pete Sonntag
Sourced from the Sonntag Vineyard in Stone Well, this rosé is our tribute to the Provençal style—elegant, savoury, and quietly complex. Grown by Pete Sonntag, these vines thrive in shallow loam over limestone, producing fruit of nuance and natural tension. The Mourvèdre is picked separately and given several hours of skin contact to build vibrancy, subtle complexity, and fine chalky tannin. The Cinsault is picked and pressed directly, contributing perfume, freshness, and effortless charm. Both parcels are wild yeast fermented and held on lees separately before blending, encouraging texture and harmony. Raised exclusively in stainless steel for six months, this is a finely textured, gastronomic rosé, offering wild strawberry, pink grapefruit, savoury herbs, and a mineral-laced, dry finish. Refreshing yet serious, with purpose and poise.
2024 Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache rrp $49
Vine Vale | Barossa Valley | Planted 1956 | Grower: Kevin Schild
From dry-grown planted in 1956 by the Schild family, this Grenache captures the elegance and restraint that Vine Vale’s deep sandy soils are renowned for. We’ve worked with this block since 2013, drawn to its consistency, perfume, and natural finesse. The aim is always to let the terroir shine, sometimes with two separate picks: one earlier for vibrancy and lifted aromatics, the other later for depth and structure. A portion is fermented whole cluster, allowing the stems to contribute fine tannin and absorb some alcohol, lifting the palate and adding structural tension. A small portion of new French oak adds subtle framing without overpowering the fruit. The result is a poised, expressive Grenache, red cherry, pomegranate, dried rose, and warm spice glide across a silken palate. Beautifully balanced, savoury, and cellar-worthy, yet undeniably delicious now.
2024 Single Vineyard Stone Well Syrah rrp $49
Stone Well | Barossa Valley | Planted 2000| Grower: Pete Sonntag
Crafted from a vineyard scattered with pink quartz in the heart of Stone Well, this Syrah reflects our ongoing pursuit: to express Barossa Shiraz with elegance, restraint, and a sense of place. Working with grower Pete Sonntag since 2016, we’ve seen this block deliver year after year, vibrant in colour and flavour, yet always marked by a unique lightness and mineral finesse.A portion of whole clusters is used during wild fermentation, allowing the stems to absorb sugar, lower alcohol naturally, and contribute fine tannin and aromatic lift. Maturation avoids excessive oak, preserving the purity of fruit and site. The result is a Syrah of quiet confidence, violets, black cherry, and cracked pepper weaves through a savoury, mid-weight palate framed by chalky tannins and refreshing acidity. A wine that speaks softly but lingers long.
Yelland & Papps 2024 Single Vineyard Greenock Shiraz rrp $59
Greenock | Barossa Valley | Planted 1988 | Grower: David Materne
*To be released and bottled at a later date. Crafted from a single site in Greenock, farmed by fourth-generation grower David Materne, this Shiraz has been a cornerstone of our winemaking since 2005. Year after year, it delivers with clarity, structure, and unwavering provenance, a testament to both site and grower. The fruit is always handled with intention: wild-fermented and raised in French oak puncheons for eighteen months. This large-format vessel allows the wine to evolve slowly, building depth and harmony while maintaining fruit purity and vineyard character. This is Barossa Shiraz with presence and poise, a wine that carries the region’s natural power, but tempers it with elegance, finesse, and time. It’s a cuvée made with purpose: more oak influence, more structural tension, and a deliberate nod to the age-worthiness we believe Greenock Shiraz can achieve.
The YP Wines
Crafted purely for enjoyment, lifestyle, and pleasure, the YP wines are an expression of freedom, born from the abundance of a great vintage. Sourced from multiple parcels of fruit, these wines are often declassified from our Single Vineyard range. This allows us to explore broader site selections while preserving the integrity and identity of those flagship bottlings. The YP range is an artisan expression of surplus excellence, the bonus of having too many great parcels to fit into just one tier. Enjoy, savour, cellar, or simply drink. The choice is yours.
Yelland & Papps 2024 Vin de Soif Blanc rrp $32
Roussanne & Grenache Gris | Barossa Valley | Grower David Materne/ Paul Rohrlach
A midweek white with serious pedigree. This is a declassified blend of Roussanne and GrenacheGris from our single vineyard program, fruit that didn’t quite fit the barrel or style, but absolutely overdelivers in the glass. Wild-fermented, textured, and refreshingly unpretentious, it’s a wine to enjoy rather than analyse (though there’s plenty to find if you do). Roussanne brings spice and creamy weight; Grenache Gris adds lift, energy, and citrusy crunch. No oak showboating, just a quiet backbone of lees work and varietal charm. The 2024 release is layered yet easygoing, with white peach, almond meal, preserved lemon, and a whisper of saline edge. Each vintage will see this blend evolve, with additions from other Rhône varietals as they come into their own, always expressive, always drinkable, and always just a little unexpected.
Yelland & Papps 2024 Vin de Soif Rouge rrp $32
Grenache, Cinsault & Mourvèdre | Barossa Valley | Grower Kevin Schild/Pete Sonntag
An unashamedly bright, drink-now red with serious roots. This blend is built around declassified Grenache parcels from our single vineyard program, blended with small components of Cinsault and Mourvèdre to amplify lift, perfume, and texture. We set out to craft a wine where Grenache could shine on its own terms, without the density or weight of Shiraz. The result is a light-footed,midweek-friendly red that still carries depth, detail, and a whisper of savoury complexity. Wild-fermented, gently handled, and raised without heavy oak, the 2024 release shows red cherry, raspberry compote, dried herbs, and a fine dusting of spice. Juicy, refreshing and dangerously moreish—served slightly chilled or just as is, this is Barossa with a wink.
Yelland & Papps 2024 YP Shiraz rrp $32
Shiraz | Barossa Valley | Grower Pete Sonntag / Bob Modra/ Susan & Michael Papps
Our approachable take on Barossa Shiraz, generous, vibrant, and made to be shared. The YP Shiraz blends parcels from across the valley, including fruit declassified from our single vineyard selections, giving us the freedom to craft a wine purely for enjoyment, without compromising on quality. Wild-fermented and matured in seasoned French oak, the 2024 release delivers plush dark fruit, warm spice, and a soft, savoury finish. Blackberry, baking chocolate, and a flicker of black pepper glide over a supple frame of fine tannins.Made to drink now or over the next few years, this is your midweek red, unfussy, expressive, and unmistakably Barossa.