Tenafeate Creek Wines
Barry Weinman – June 2026
Every now and then, the panel reviews a wine that defies expectations. Sometimes, this is a very well-renowned wine that fails to impress. And now and then, it is a wine that I am not familiar with that excels.
And rarely, a whole range of wines comes along that knocks my socks off. And so it was with Tenafeate Creek Wines.
When the samples arrived, I had no clue as to the quality, so I quietly slipped them into a few blind tastings over the last few weeks and, each time, the panel was highly impressed by the quality and stunned by the value on offer.
The pinot grigio set the scene with a highly aromatic wine that is delicious and versatile enough to accompany a variety of foods.
But it was the reds that really set the cat amongst the pigeons. The shiraz, cabernet and grenache were all superstars and, at $33/bottle ex-winery, they offer incredible value.
The winery and vineyards are located in the northern Adelaide Hills, in the One Tree Hill district, which borders the Barossa Valley and is only 35 minutes from Adelaide on the way to the Barossa.
The Tenafeate Creek story is a good one. Larry Costa started making wine as a hobby with shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese being made from One Tree Hill vineyards. Today, with Michael Costa at the helm, the focus remains on small-batch, hands-on winemaking, with the reds drawn from One Tree Hill vineyards. The name itself comes from the old Tenafeate Homestead, with “Tenafeate” said to be an adaptation of a Gaelic name meaning “The Whistling House”.
These wines are the value find of the year so far and I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Reviewed
Tenafeate Creek Wines – Pinot Grigio – 2026. Very vibrant and lifted aromatics that leap from the glass. I literally started smelling this when it was 30cm from my nose. Has a touch of colour that is typical of the grape. The palate is zesty and acid-driven, with gentle phenolics adding texture and mouthfeel. Despite the acidity, this remains balanced and highly enjoyable, with textural pear characters and tropical and passionfruit notes building. Served cool on a warm afternoon, this will be great drinking and could easily accompany lighter foods. 12.0% alc | 93pts | $33.00.
Tenafeate Creek Wines – One Tree Hill – Grenache – 2024. I love the vibrant colour of this wine, with its translucent, almost ethereal hue. Very pretty and floral, this has a lot in common with fine pinot noir. Both the nose and palate are packed full of irresistible cherry/plum fruit, with layers of minerality, chocolate, coffee and liquorice coming over the top. Very medium bodied, this is all about the fruit. There has been a minimalistic approach to the winemaking (old oak), which is perfectly in keeping with the fruit. Totally delicious, with one panellist declaring this the best grenache they have tasted this year. If you see this in a wine bar, grab a glass. You won’t be sorry. From a single 35-year-old vineyard in the northern part of the district. 14.5% alc | 95pts | $30.00.
Tenafeate Creek Wines – One Tree Hill – Mataro – 2024. Again, there is great colour here, but the fragrant, pretty fruit has been replaced with a more structured, tannic façade. But underneath, there is a vibrancy to the wine that is most attractive and it is delicious, savoury and gently spiced. Drink it now with a BBQed rib-eye steak or rich lamb shanks and be happy. This wine was given the same winemaking treatment as the grenache, and it is fascinating to compare the two wines side by side, to really get a handle on the varietal differences. 13.5% alc | 93pts | $30.00.
Tenafeate Creek Wines – One Tree Hill – Shiraz – 2023. The vibrancy of this wine in the glass is quite arresting and very beautiful. The first whiff suggests a wine of power and intensity. But there is also a purity to the fruit that is captivating. The palate, however, is where this really shines. There are layers of ripe plum fruit that cascade across a palate that is remarkably refined and near seamless for a wine of such richness. And the structure is a highlight. The key feature for me, however, is the restraint that this wine shows. It makes for an excellent drink today with an eggplant parmigiana, or a wine that will build depth and complexity with extended ageing. Basket pressed and aged in a combination of new and older large oak barrels. 2024 was a very late harvest and the winemaker is suggesting that this is destined to be one of the best vintages of the decade. A great find. 15.0% alc | 96pts | $35.00.
Tenafeate Creek Wines – One Tree Hill – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2024. This is more closed and structured, with the fruit shrouded in a blanket of ever-so-fine tannins. But there is no denying the intrinsic quality on show. The fruit has impressive density, and the seamless palate transition is testament to the skills of the winemaker. But it needs time, lots of time, to show its best. A masterful expression of the sheer power that cabernet can attain. With air, the sweet fruit starts to shine, with densely packed violets coming to mind. Who knew that Adelaide Hills cabernet could be this good! 14.5% alc | 95.5pts | $35.00.
