Paxton

Brand Description

Paxton is a family-owned wine company in McLaren Vale, Australia, and a leader in both organic and biodynamic viticulture and winemaking. Established in 1979, Paxton was founded by David Paxton who has built a reputation as one of Australia’s most highly respected viticulturalists by managing and growing wine grapes of exceptional quality for over 30 years. Today, under the direction and guidance of consultant winemaker Kate Goodman and winemaker Ashleigh Seymour, Paxton produces an approachable collection of estate grown wines that showcase McLaren Vale’s exceptional fruit quality, natural diversity, and varietal expression.

Paxton’s vineyards are spread across a diverse number of sites and soil types, and all of them are managed without compromise from planting to harvest. Paxton has been a fully certified biodynamic wine producer for over a decade and all of their wines are made with organic grapes, resulting in a range of wines that highlight the individuality of the vineyard, vintage, and skill of Paxton team who view themselves as temporary custodians of the land.

Location of Vineyard

The Paxton Estate consists of approximately 200 acres of premium vineyards in McLaren Vale that are mainly on the Seaview Ridge. Their prestigious vineyards claim some of the region's oldest vines, including the legendary 125-year-old Thomas Block. McLaren Vale is one of Australia's most unique and important wine regions as one of the most geologically diverse in the world, producing some of the world's best super premium wines. It has also become the epicenter for organic grape farming in Australia pioneered by Paxton Estate because of its favorable natural conditions. Referred to as ‘Sea & Vines,’ McLaren Vale's geographic location on the Gulf of St. Vincent creates the perfect growing region with its unique terroir, soils, winds and temperate Mediterranean climate. These unique factors working together lead to high quality, premium grapes and world-renowned first-class wines. 

Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy

Paxton was one of the first pioneers of biodynamic farming in Australia, and today all Paxton’s vineyards are 100% Paxton owned and managed, and all of the wines are crafted with organic grapes, certified biodynamic, and vegan friendly. In the winery, minimal winemaking intervention ensures the integrity of the fruit from vineyard to bottle. Paxton’s core biodynamic belief is founded in soil health. The vines are cared for without the use of synthetic fertilizers nor pesticides, with a focus on promoting healthy, living soils through the use of natural compost preparations. Through this process they are able to give back to the environment and nurture it for future generations. Paxton's philosophy is that when vines live in truly healthy, chemical free soils, in ecologically sound environments, they will produce the best quality grapes, and therefore the highest quality wines.

Paxton
David & Ang
Jones Block Vineyard
Ashleigh Seymour
Consulting Winemaker Kate Goodman
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Winery Profile
Owner: David Paxton & Ang Tolly
Winemaker: Ashleigh Seymour, Kate Goodman
Total acreage under vine: 200
Founded: 1979
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Acclaim
“Baterista is the Spanish word for drummer, with this a colab with Ronnie Vannucci, drummer of The Killers. From the Jones block and off vines around 50 years of age, this was destemmed and fermented in small-batch open fermenters, with up to 20 days on skins; matured in French oak for about of 18 months. This was made before current winemaker Ashleigh Seymour’s time. It’s a richly fruited wine laden with blackberries and dark plum, chocolate, oak spice, vanilla, leather and mocha. Slippery, saline and mouth-filling.” — acclaim for 2020 Baterista by Paxton from James Halliday, Jun 2024
“From vines planted in 1996 in Seaview to loam over limestone; fermented wild with 40% whole bunches, plunging, pump-overs and 10 to 15 days on skins; matured in new and seasoned French puncheons for 12 months. Boysenberry, black cherry, Kalamata olive, lavender, seaweed, violet and ripe red plum, fruit generous but picked perfectly ripe to capture both flavour depth and energy. This is supple and silky in delivery, more medium in weight, individual in feel and crafted with skilful restraint, the value hard to beat.” — acclaim for 2022 Paxton Quandong Farm Shiraz from James Halliday, Jun 2024
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