Ricca Terra “Bullets before Cannonballs” 2022, Tempranillo, Lambrusco, Lagrein & Shiraz, Riverland, South Australia

The story goes...that inexperienced sailors were defeated by enemy ships because their cannonballs missed the targets. The experienced ones would shoot a bullet first to determine the trajectory prior to the eventual cannonball being fired. The ‘calculations’ provided a better result with a higher percentage of their target being destroyed. Rather than a mass planting of a new grape variety, Ashley Ratcliff’s approach was to plan small plots, watch, wait and learn…the bullet if you will. When the right trajectory is determined, the cannonball is then loaded and fired and a new variety is introduced to the portfolio in the vineyard and bottle.

This is a statement wine with cracking Mediterranean varieties! Fragrant and medium bodied. it marks 100 on the drinkability scale! Red-black berry fruit characters, light sweetness with ultra spicy notes! Cannonballs at the ready!

Ashley Ratcliff (Founder) has a background in Viticulture and has always been passionate about the wine industry. he and and wife purchased their first vineyard in Barmera South Australia with a vision to plant, nurture and make wine from wine varieties that were best suited to Australia's warm and dry climate. Ricca Terra is definitely making a name for themselves in the industry accumulating some of the industries best awards. Their wine has blends that have yet to be seen here at Wine Brothers, so if you are looking for something you have yet to try, Ricca Terra is a sure bet!

The grapes selected in this blend were hand-picked and then placed in a cool room immediately after harvest to preserve fruit quality. The aim in making this was to allow the fruit flavors at the forefront. Each variety is fermented separately in stainless steel and entirely destemmed. Fermentation carried out naturally in used French oak barrels and over a period of 7-20 days, depending on the lot. Secondary fermentation carried out naturally throughout the spring and after 12 months of aging the wine was blended and racked to tank to harmonize together. It was bottled without fining or filtration.

ABV: 14.5%
Vol: 750ml