Roman Bratasiuk founded Clarendon Hills in 1990 and embarked on a journey that would irreversibly change the landscape of the Australian wine industry. Trained as a Biochemist, Roman taught himself how to make wine. Roman’s deeply prophetic vision saw him introduce the single vineyard concept to Australian wine in 1990. Roman also pioneered the Australian Grenache category with the release of Australia’s first single vineyard, 100% Grenache: the 1991 Clarendon Hills Blewitt Springs Grenache.

Roman also unearthed and discovered one of Australia’s greatest single vineyards with his discovery of the Astralis Syrah vineyard in Blewitt Springs in 1990. Roman’s undying dedication to his craft over the last 34 years and persistent pragmatic refinement across the last 3 decades has seen Clarendon Hills develop a worldwide, first-class reputation. Roman’s relentless work highlighting these remarkable old vine Grenache, Syrah, and Cabernet vineyards spread throughout the Blewitt Springs and Clarendon sub-districts is something to behold.

Low-yielding, dry-grown vines from the Blewitt Springs region in McLaren Vale were hand-picked and followed by a partial whole berry, wild yeast fermentation. All pressings were returned to the barrel and eventually bottled onsite without fining or filtration after 18 months in French Oak. The Domaine Clarendon Grenache represents a regional wine composed of the declassified Grenache fruit from the Clarendon Hills single vineyard Grenache wines.