Wines
Ardent Estates
Adelaide Hills
The Horlin-Smith family were Adelaide Hills apple orchardists and so their passion for the Adelaide Hills and the land carried through to their father Donald and from him to his two sons Robert & Anthony. Between the father and sons there is some 100 years of experience in the wine and hospitality industries. It was their fathers’ passion for fine wine and food that inspired the brothers to start Horlin-Smith Wines. The name Ardent Estates means passion and anyone who really knows the Horlin-Smith’s knows, if nothing else they are passionate!
The company sources grapes from two Premium South Australian areas, the McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills. These two areas are diversely different viticultural areas but wonderfully similar, as they both produce outstanding wines of intense varietal character. From the warm rich Cabernets and Shirazes of the McLaren Vale to steely fruit driven Sauvignon Blanc’s & Chardonnay’s of the Adelaide Hills. The combination of ideal soil from the grower’s vineyards in the McLaren Vale and the beautiful sunny Mediterranean climate and with the cooling afternoon maritime breezes from the spectacular Gulf St. Vincent. Along with careful vineyard management will ensure low yielding vines, which will then deliver grapes with intense varietal character. As it is well known that wonderful fruit makes great wine and this allows for a minimalist intervention from our award-winning winemaking team.