The Rockcliffe winery is based in the Great Southern wine producing area in Western Australia. The Great Southern is the largest wine producing region by area in Australia. The region has a range of climates from cool/warm/wet in the South where it is influenced by the Southern Ocean and hot and dry in the north. The area produces excellent quality whites (Chardonnay Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc) and Pinot Noir in the South. Whereas in the north, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon excel!
Location of the Great Southern Wine Region and “Rockcliffe Winery” in
Southern West Australia.
“Rockcliffe” was named after the stretch of 100m high granite rock cliffs that dominate the eastern end of Denmark’s main bay. The same granite lies beneath the vineyard and gives distinctive characteristics to the wine.
Ocean Beach, Denmark with the “Rockcliffes” in the Background
The origin of Rockcliffe was a 70 acre expanse of apple orchards and forest set in the Eden-like paradise of Denmark, West Australia. Rockcliffe is located close to the Southern Ocean therefore our vineyards produce stunning Chardonnays, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot.
The beautiful Rockcliffe Vineyard in Denmark Western Australia
In the late 1980’s, dry grown vines were planted. In 2002 Dr Steve Hall, a geologist, became the new owner and, under his enthusiastic direction, Rockcliffe underwent major refurbishment.
Dr Steve Hall, owner of Rockcliffe Wines
In 2007, we commenced building of a modern winery on the property. The winery was ready for the 2008 vintage. This winery is capable of processing 1200 tonnes of grapes per year and is now one of the biggest and most efficient wineries in the Great Southern.
Rockcliffe Winery
Rockcliffe Winery
Rockcliffe restaurant, cellar door and house.
Rockcliffe Cellar Door
Michael Ng, previously chief winemaker at Forest Hill, joined the team. Michael brings a history of success, enthusiasm and an extensive range of skills to the winery. Michael comes from Melbourne Victoria, but his parents came from China. Michael is fluent in both Cantonese and English. He studied winemaking and viticulture whilst at University in Melbourne. He has considerable experience of working in wineries in Australia but he has also completed vintages in Italy, France and Turkey
Today the Rockcliffe team works everyday to produce some of the best wines from Western Australia. Rockcliffe focuses on making very high quality wines across our ranges. The grapes all come from the Great Southern, reds from the hot north and whites and pinot from our own vineyards in the South. We sell our high quality wines at reasonable prices.
“There is an impressive assemblage of winemaking skill and experience in the winery during vintage, the benefits are obvious to see, so is the quality of the Rockcliffe wines.” James Halliday 2016
Wines are currently exported to China, Canada and Malaysia.
Rockcliffe winery produces three different ranges of wine, Single Site, Third Reef and Quarram rocks under its name (James Halliday, Wine Companion 2017 points and comments in brackets).
“Over the years, Rockcliffe has won more than it’s fair share of trophies, gold and silver medals in wine shows” James Halliday Wine Companion 2017.
Single Site (Very high quality single vineyard wines for the discerning wine drinker):
Shiraz (96 points “Has impeccable length and balance, and will richly reward patience”)
Pinot Noir (97 points, “It is great now but will be superb in a few years”)
Chardonnay (97 points “you want to rise from your chair to salute the wine”)
Riesling (94 points “It’s flavours are essentially open and ready to be tucked into”)
Cabernet Sauvignon (94 points “the tannins are plentiful but soft”)
Third Reef (Tier 2 wines for high quality restaurants and hotels):-
Cabernet Sauvignon (95 points “A brilliant example of how good this variety can be this region”).
Shiraz (95 points “…truly delicious black and red cherry fruits, cedary French oak adding a burnish to the mosaic”)
Pinot Noir (94 points “Immediately appealing, the aromas of cherry jam blue plums….jumping from the glass”)
Chardonnay (93 points)
Riesling (91 points)
Dry Rose (Not yet submitted for awards).
“Third Reef” is named after a surfing locality at the base of the “Rockcliffes” at Ocean Beach.
Quarram Rocks (Tier 3 wines for high quality liquor stores and house pouring in restaurants):-
Shiraz Cabernet (94 points “ A bold, rich and complex blend…the price is embarrassingly low”)
Sauvignon Bland Semillon (92 points)
Sweet Rose (Not submitted for awards)
Quarram Rocks near Denmark
Since the winery was first operational on 2008, Rockcliffe has won many awards:-
Every year since the winery became operational, Rockcliffe has been recognised as a 5 star winery by James Halliday in his Australian Wine Companion.
“Most improved winery Award” West Australian Wine Guide 2014.
SINGLE SITE SERIES Rockcliffe Single Site Riesling 2014 94 Points | James Halliday Wine Companion 2016 95 Points | James Halliday Wine Companion tasting note November 2014 Silver | Wine Show Case 2014 95 Points | WA Wine Gude 2015 Rockcliffe Single Site Riesling 2015 Silver | Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia 2015 Silver | Australian Cool Climate Wine Show 2015 Silver | Canberra International Riesling Challenge 2015 Rockliffe Single Site Chardonnay 2013 96 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 96 Points | The Wine Companion 2015 93 Points | The Wine Front 94 Points |West Australian Wine Guide 2015 Gold Medal | Australian Wine Show Case July Tasting 2014 Gold Medal | WA Boutique Wine Awards 2014 Rockcliffe Single Site Pinot Noir 2014 94 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 4 ½ stars | Winestate Pinot Noir tasting 2015 Silver | Perth Royal Wine Show 2015 Gold | Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia 2015 AWARDS AND ACCOLADES Rockcliffe Single Site Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 95 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 94 Points | The Wine Companion 2015 94 Points | The Wine Front 95 Points | West Australian Wine Guide 2015 Gold Medal | Australian Wine Show Case July Tasting 2014 Rockcliffe Single Site Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Silver | Huon Hooke August 2015 Gold | 6 Nations 2015 Wine Challenge 2015 Silver | Australian Cool Climate Wine Show 2015 4 ½ Stars|Winestate Cabernet tasting and finalist in Wine of the year 2016 Rockcliffe Single Site Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 4 ½ Stars|Winestate Cabernet tasting and finalist in Wine of the year 2016 Rockcliffe Single Site Shiraz 2012 97 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 95 Points | West Australian Wine Guide 2015 Rockcliffe Single Site Shiraz 2013 96 Points| Wine Companion Tasting Note Feb 2016 Rockcliffe Single Site Shiraz 2014 4 ½ Stars|Winestate Shiraz tasting and finalist in Wine of the year 2016
THIRD REEF SERIES Third Reef Riesling 2015 Silver | Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia 2015 Third Reef Chardonnay 2013 95 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 Gold Medal |WA Boutique Wine Show 2014 Silver | Huon Hooke August 2015 Third Reef Pinot Noir 2014 94 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 Silver | Huon Hooke August 2015 Silver | Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia 2015 AWARDS AND ACCOLADES Third Reef Shiraz 2013 94 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 Silver | Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia 2015 Third Reef Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 95 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 Third Reef Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 4 ½ Stars|Winestate Cabernet tasting and finalist in Wine of the year 2016
QUARRAM ROCKS SERIES Quarram Rocks Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2014 4 ½ Stars + equal top in category | Winestate Best of the West Tasting 2015 Nominated wine of the year finalist | Winestate 2015 91 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 Quarram Rocks Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015 Quarram Rocks Cabernet Shiraz 2012 94 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 Quarram Rocks Cabernet Shiraz 2013 Trophy Red Wine Blends | Association of Australian Boutique Winemakers Awards 2015 Trophy Classic Australian Blend | Winewise Small Vignerons Awards 2015 92 Points | The Wine Companion 2016 Gold | Australian Cool Climate Wine Show Silver | Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia 2015 Quarram Rocks Shiraz Cabernet 2014 94 Points | The Wine Companion tasting note May 2016
Contact: Dr Steve Hall steve@rockcliffe.cm.au
Mobile: +61419848195 (Australia) +60172267652 (Malaysia)