Bancroft takes on first Clare Valley producer

By Lisa Riley

Published: 03 September, 2018

Bancroft Wines has added Skillogalee to its Australian portfolio marking the launch of its first Clare Valley wines.

With effect from 1 November this year, Bancroft will become the exclusive on and off-trade UK distributor of Skillogalee - a family-owned and operated winery located in the heart of the Clare Valley in South Australia.

The winery’s focus on family, quality and sustainability made it the “perfect partner” for Bancroft, said CEO Jon Worsley.

“We are thrilled to add Skillogalee to our portfolio - our first Clare Valley producer. These fantastic wines are the product of owners David and Diana Palmer’s tireless dedication to their craft. Through careful vineyard work and small-batch winemaking, they let their grapes speak honestly of the place and soils in which they are grown,” he said.

Pitched as one of Clare Valley’s “top estates”, the original Skillogalee vineyards were planted in the early 1970’s, with the first wines released in 1976. David and Diana Palmer acquired the property in 1989 before expanding In 2002 when they purchased next door neighbour Waninga Vineyards - 30 hectares of 30-year-old vines, bringing the size of the estate to 60 hectares.

David Palmer, said: “Skillogalee is a small family-owned and operated wine company that has practiced sustainable methodologies in the vineyard and the winery for many years. And as such we believe we will fit comfortably into the model that Bancroft has adopted for the expansion of its Australian portfolio.”

All Skillogalee wines are produced exclusively from estate-owned vineyards, with the vines hand-pruned and the fruit mainly hand-picked and yields kept “extremely” low.

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