Alma was the Schild matriarch, married to estate founder Ben Schild, she raised a family of eight children under primitive conditions while supporting her husband throughout the establishment of Schild vineyards. The original homestead at Three Springs was acquired by Ben in 1952 as a mixed farm with dairy sheep, stonefruit orchard and a small acreage of vines. Alma showed the greatest perseverance whilst encouraging her husband and nurturing a large family during some of the most impoverished times in recent Australian history.
The Schild approach is very much centred around progress in the vineyard. Everything is aimed at preserving the character of quality fruit without too much interference from the winery. Fruit is sourced from the Schild family's best parcel of Chardonnay at Moorooroo Vineyard near Rowland Flat, grapes are harvested and picked at optimum ripeness in the cool night air. Grapes are de stemmed and the musts are chilled, vinified in controlled fermenters followed by transfer to barrel for completion of ferments, lees stirring, malolactic and a term of maturation. Quality French oak and several months on lees infuses the palate and contributes texture to an elegant yet complex Chardonnay.
Bright straw hue. Fragrant peach and honeydew melon bouquets overlaid with toasty French oak. Fresh tropical fruits on the palate combine with restrained hints of oak and creamy, nutty mouth feel derived from lees stirring during maturation. Apricots and peach flavours dominate the palate, delivering richness of flavour along with a subtle acid backbone ensuring the wine remains stylish, fresh and elegant, all the way to a lengthy finish.
