A Gem of a Man
Ernst Sigel manages a certified organic vineyard in Sellicks Hill, the southernmost pocket of McLaren Vale, where the hills meet the sea and the wild winds blow. The site is dry-grown — no irrigation, just the winter rains and the deep roots of old vines — and farmed under NASAA organic certification. Shiraz is the primary variety, and the fruit is hand-picked with care. Alex Schulkin and Galit Shachaf of The Other Right have worked with Ernst for over a decade, calling him "a gem of a man" [^96^] and making some of their most distinctive wines from his fruit. The UNFURL series — now in its 12th vintage [^106^] — and the playful LOVE POTION are both born here. The wines are minimal-intervention, low-fidelity, and vivid: crunchy red fruit, blueberries, dark plums, and a freshness that belies the warm McLaren Vale climate. Visitors to Sellicks Hill will be familiar with the site's wild winds — they shape the vines, concentrate the fruit, and give the wines a tension and energy that is unmistakably Ernst's.
The Southernmost Pocket of the Vale
Sellicks Hill sits at the southern edge of McLaren Vale, where the Adelaide Hills descend to meet the Gulf St Vincent. It is a place of wild winds, steep slopes, and a maritime influence that moderates the region's warmth. Ernst Sigel's vineyard occupies this exposed, coastal-facing site — dry-grown, organically farmed, and shaped by the elements. The vines have no irrigation; they rely on winter rainfall and their own deep roots to survive the dry summers. This is not easy farming, but it produces fruit of exceptional intensity and character.
Ernst is not a public figure. He does not have a website, a social media presence, or a marketing team. He is a grower — patient, committed, and deeply connected to his land. Alex Schulkin and Galit Shachaf of The Other Right discovered his vineyard over a decade ago, and the partnership has become one of the most enduring in the Adelaide Hills natural wine scene. "Grown by Ernst Sigel, who Alex and Galit declare is a gem of a man," one retailer noted. [^96^] The relationship is built on mutual respect: Ernst grows the fruit with organic care, and Alex and Galit transform it into wines that express the site's unique character.
The vineyard's isolation is part of its charm. Sellicks Hill is not the McLaren Vale of cellar doors and tour buses. It is a quiet, windswept pocket where the vines struggle against the elements and produce small quantities of intensely flavoured fruit. The site is dry-grown — a rarity in modern Australian viticulture — and the yields are low. But the quality is high, and the wines made from Ernst's fruit are consistently among The Other Right's most sought-after releases.
"Grown by Ernst Sigel, who Alex and Galit declare is a gem of a man."
— Good Pair Days
Wild Winds, Dry-Grown & Organic
Ernst Sigel's vineyard is a study in resilience. Located in Sellicks Hill, the southernmost part of McLaren Vale, it is exposed to wild winds that sweep up from the Gulf St Vincent. These winds are not a nuisance; they are a defining feature. They reduce humidity, concentrate the fruit, and give the wines a tension and freshness that is rare in the warm McLaren Vale climate. "Visitors to Sellicks Hill, where Ernst Sigel's Certified Organic Shiraz vineyard sits, will be familiar with the site's wild winds," one release note observed. [^101^]
The vineyard is dry-grown — no irrigation, no supplementary water. The vines rely on winter rainfall and the moisture retained in the soil. This is old-school viticulture, and it produces small quantities of intensely flavoured fruit. The vines are stressed, but not suffering; they produce grapes with thick skins, concentrated flavours, and a natural acidity that preserves freshness. The farming is certified organic under NASAA — no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilisers. The focus is on soil health, biodiversity, and letting the vines find their own balance. [^92^]
Shiraz is the primary variety, and it thrives in this challenging environment. The fruit is hand-picked, ensuring that only the best grapes reach the winery. The yields are tiny — typically 60 to 80 dozen bottles per wine style annually [^92^] — but the quality is exceptional. The wines made from Ernst's fruit are vivid, vigorous, and full of life: crunchy red fruit, blueberries, dark plums, cherry ripe, and a distinct peppery spice that reflects the site's exposure and the vines' struggle. This is not the plush, overripe Shiraz of warmer McLaren Vale sites; it is something finer, fresher, and more expressive.
The southernmost pocket of McLaren Vale, where the hills meet the sea. Exposed to wild winds from the Gulf St Vincent. Maritime influence moderates the warmth. Steep slopes, dry-grown vines, and a challenging climate that produces fruit of exceptional intensity and character. Not the typical McLaren Vale cellar-door country — this is a quiet, windswept site for the dedicated grower.
No irrigation. No supplementary water. The vines rely on winter rainfall and deep roots. Old-school viticulture that produces small quantities of intensely flavoured fruit. Thick skins, concentrated flavours, natural acidity. The vines are stressed but balanced, producing grapes that winemakers describe as "vivid, vigorous, and full of life." [^81^]
Certified organic under NASAA (National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia). No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilisers. Emphasis on soil health, biodiversity, and natural resilience. Hand-picked fruit to ensure integrity. A commitment to sustainable agriculture that aligns with the natural wine philosophy of minimal intervention. [^92^]
The main grape grown on the site, and the one that has made Ernst's vineyard famous among natural wine enthusiasts. The Shiraz from Sellicks Hill is not the typical warm-climate McLaren Vale style — it is lighter, fresher, and more aromatic, with crunchy red fruit, blueberries, and a distinct peppery character. Some vintages are so fresh they are compared to Sangiovese from the Yarra Valley. [^81^]
Minimal Intervention, Maximum Character
Ernst Sigel's approach to viticulture is simple: look after the land, and the land will look after the vines. He does not chase high yields or try to force the vineyard into producing something it is not. He farms organically, dry-grown, and hand-picks — three practices that are increasingly rare in modern Australian viticulture but essential to the quality of the fruit. The result is grapes that require minimal intervention in the winery — fruit that is balanced, healthy, and expressive of its site.
Alex Schulkin and Galit Shachaf of The Other Right have been working with Ernst's fruit for over a decade, and their winemaking philosophy mirrors his viticultural approach. "Our wine is made out of grapes and nothing else," they state. "We're striving to keep it simple, aspiring to make wine that is precise, pure, and exciting. Winemaking operations are kept to the reasonable minimum. No unnecessary action is taken. Using fewer tools requires a lot of attention to detail, patience, creativity and problem solving." [^81^] No additives are used. The wine evolves slowly, according to its natural rhythm, maintaining its character while youth and freshness shine through.
The UNFURL series is the flagship expression of Ernst's Shiraz. Now in its 12th vintage, it has become a benchmark for minimal-intervention McLaren Vale Shiraz. The 2023 vintage was described as "another successful season from Ernst's inimitable vineyard in Sellicks Hill" — blueberries, canned dark plums, cherry ripe, toffee, and cinnamon; mouthfilling with balanced acidity and tannins. [^106^] The 2024 vintage was even more surprising: "So fresh, it's yet again hard to believe it is coming from a dry-grown vineyard in the warm climate of Sellicks Hill, McLaren Vale. Crunchy red fruit, you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a bright Sangiovese that went for a walk in the Yarra valley and was never seen again." [^81^] This is the magic of Ernst's site — warm climate fruit with cool-climate freshness.
The 12th Vintage
The UNFURL 2023 marked the 12th consecutive vintage of The Other Right working with Ernst Sigel's vineyard — a remarkable partnership in an industry where relationships often last only a season or two. "Another successful season from Ernst's inimitable vineyard in Sellicks Hill," Alex Schulkin wrote. "Blueberries, canned dark plums, cherry ripe, toffee, and cinnamon; mouthfilling with balanced acidity and tannins." [^106^] The consistency of the site, despite vintage variation, is a testament to Ernst's farming. Dry-grown, organic, exposed to wild winds — and yet the fruit is balanced, vibrant, and full of life. This is not luck; it is the result of decades of careful observation, patient nurturing, and a deep understanding of the land. The 12th vintage is not an endpoint; it is a milestone in a relationship that continues to evolve.
The Quiet Grower, The Windswept Site
Ernst Sigel is not a public figure. He does not appear at wine fairs, give interviews, or maintain a social media presence. He is a grower — one of the quiet, essential figures who make the natural wine movement possible. Without growers like Ernst, there would be no The Other Right, no UNFURL, no LOVE POTION. The winemakers get the glory, but the growers provide the foundation.
The vineyard's identity is inseparable from its place. Sellicks Hill is not the McLaren Vale of postcards — it is the wild, windswept edge where the hills meet the sea. The vines struggle against the elements, and the fruit bears the marks of that struggle: concentrated flavours, natural acidity, and a tension that is rare in the region. The wines made from Ernst's fruit are vivid, vigorous, and full of life — "youth and freshness are to shine through," as The Other Right puts it. [^81^] This is the opposite of the heavy, overripe Shiraz that once defined Australian wine. It is light, fresh, and deeply expressive of place.
Ernst's partnership with The Other Right is a model for the future of Australian wine: grower and winemaker working together, sharing values, and building something lasting. The 12th vintage of UNFURL is not just a milestone; it is proof that this model works. The wines are small-batch — 60 to 80 dozen per release [^92^] — and they sell out quickly. They are sought after by natural wine bars, restaurants, and collectors who understand that the best wine comes from the best fruit, and the best fruit comes from the best growers. Ernst Sigel is one of the best, even if he would never say so himself.
"So fresh, it's yet again hard to believe it is coming from a dry-grown vineyard in the warm climate of Sellicks Hill, McLaren Vale. Crunchy red fruit, you would be forgiven for mistaking it for a bright Sangiovese that went for a walk in the Yarra valley and was never seen again."
— Alex Schulkin, The Other Right, UNFURL 2024
Wines Made from Ernst Sigel's Vineyard
Ernst Sigel does not make wine. He grows grapes — certified organic, dry-grown, hand-picked — and sells them to a select group of winemakers who share his commitment to minimal intervention and site expression. The primary partnership is with The Other Right, Alex Schulkin and Galit Shachaf, who have made multiple cuvées from Ernst's Shiraz over 12 consecutive vintages. The wines are small-batch, vivid, and deeply expressive of the Sellicks Hill terroir: wild winds, dry-grown vines, and the struggle that produces exceptional fruit.