Worlds Apart
Regional South Australia
A thorough education under Taras Ochota has set the tone for Louis Schofields’ transition from Adelaide sommelier and wine bar owner to Hills based vigneron.
Worlds Apart Wines got off the ground in 2017, with Louis and his partner Hannah setting out with the enviable task of making wine that tastes good. In the cellar their approach could be described as minimal intervention in the sense that there are zero additions save for small amounts of SO2 for stability. Louis prefers to taste contstantly throughout the fermentation stage, drawing upon years of experience working with the great wines of the world as a reference point. Once fermentation ends, the wines are sent to bottle quickly and left to mature. The desired wine style being one of vibrancy, purity and a sense of place.
They’re fortunate to have access to an outstanding network of growers dotted around South Australia. Vine material, largely farmed either organically or sustainably, ranges from Grenache through Touriga Nacional to Gamay and Riesling. It’s a wide palate, but the overall goal is to be working with varieties planted on the right soils and in the right environments around the state.
We’re huge fans of the drinkability on offer here, as well as the varietal expression. They offer a snapshot into one part of the future of Australian wine as well as an indication of just how clean the producers on the natural end of the spectrum are able to function.
Worlds Apart ‘In The Flowers’ Riesling 2023
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Region: Clare Valley
Soil: Clay-Loam w Quartz Rich Gravel
Grape: Riesling
Farming: Practicing Organic
ABV: 12.5%
RS: 8 g/l
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The fruit was hand-harvested from the Wardlaw’s Pendee Farm at the gateway to the Eden Valley and whole-bunch pressed with full lees to old 228L and 500L French oak barriques for wild fermentation.
Lees stirring occurred over the next fortnight, followed by a few months maturation on full lees. The juice was then racked to tank for natural settlement, before being bottled without fining and minimal SO2 addition.
Shows vibrant floral character on the nose, with some dried herbs and an intense palate of grapefruit and wisps of lemon, lime, and white pepper.
Worlds Apart ‘Loud Places’ Chardonnay 2022
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Region: Piccadilly, Adelaide Hills
Soil: Sandy Loam over 70 million year old shale rock
Grape: Chardonnay
Farming: Practicing Organic
ABV: 11.8%
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Grapes were hand harvested and then whole-bunch pressed to French oak puncheons and barriques (30% new). Fermentation was spontaneous and wild, with the juice staying on full lees for 8 months before bottling without fining, with minimal filtration and SO2.
Louis tells us he is very pleased with this wine and it’s clear to see why. It’s medium bodied but has a genuine core of deep, ripe fruit. There’s some typical stone fruit character and a hit of grilled nut there, too. Acid is vibrant and keeps the wine tense with energy. There’s some grapefruit towards the back and a pulpy texture which I love. – Ches Cook, LC Selections.
Worlds Apart ‘Up On The Roof’’ Light Dry Red 2023
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Region: Eden Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills
Soil: Mostly Sandy and Clay
Grape: Syrah, Grenache, Touriga
Farming: Sustainable
ABV: 12.5%
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Louis’ take on a drinking summer red – a wine that doesn’t need to be pondered or thought too deeply about. It’s juicy and has pleasantly soft tannin and because of that, it’s to be drunk young and drunk often, ideally in a bit of company. – Ches Cook, LC Selections.
Worlds Apart ‘Mountain Tops’ Pinot Noir 2023
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Region: Adelaide Hills
Grape: Pinot Noir
Farming: Sustainable
ABV: 11.6%
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From two vineyards in the Piccadilly Valley, behind Mount Lofty, one tiny block at very high elevation (550m) as well as Sam Virgara's Chapel Valley vineyard, planted in the early 1990s, with Clones MV6, D5V12, 114 & 115, on Southern, Eastern, and Western aspects.
Multiple hand picks over a couple of weeks and divide these up into small open fermenters with varying amounts of whole bunch and maceration lengths. 10% new oak.
Light and crunchy Pinot Noir from a long and cool growing season. It’s fine boned with great aromatics. Crying out for a chill in the summer months. – Ches Cook, LC Selections.
Worlds Apart ‘Blue Eyes’ Gamay 2023
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Region: Adelaide Hills
Soil:
Grape: Gamay
Farming: Sustainable
ABV: 12.8%
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Three clones of gamay co-planted on the Eureka vineyard: a young vineyard that has already survived bushfire and has such overwhelming promise as a great site in the Hills. 100% wholebunch.
My tasting note from the day we tasted this read “cru Beaujolais quality.” It’s only 12.8% alcohol and shows the elegance associated with this, showing purity, transparency, and vibrancy. It’s structured with fine silty tannin and a beautiful array of red fruit character. Another impressive wine from Louis. – Ches Cook, LC Selections.
Worlds Apart Blewitt Springs Grenache 2022
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Region: Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale
Soil: beach sand
Grape: Grenache
ABV: 13%
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Only a light touch applied in ther winery to let the quality of Grenache do a ll the talking
A great nose: super appealing with some bunch and chew, great acidity, dark tones but only medium bodied at most. Grippy and texturally quite fine, this is serious Grenache mixing it with the best of Blewitt Springs. Very happy with this. – Ches Cook, LC Selections.
Worlds Apart ‘Rites of Spring’ Grenache 2023
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Region: McLaren Vale
Soil: deep sand
Grape: Grenache
ABV: 13.1%
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Judicious whole bunch fermentation. The name refers to a Washington DC post-hardcore band, which in turn was referring to a Stravinsky ballet that caused a full blown riot in Paris, which in turn was referring to ancient Pagan rituals in which a “Chosen One” was sacrificed to the Earth by dancing until their death…
Damn this looks good. I’ve now drunk this on multiple occasions and can confirm it’s an absolute delight. Light to medium bodied, aromas balloon from the glass. On the palate it is at first juicy with red fruit and a cut of blood orange, before fine but silty tannin takes over, showing the wine’s more serious side. A wine that will please those just looking for a great drink, but also those looking for real interest, structure, and complexity in a wine. A real success. - Ches Cook, LC Selections.
‘Into The Black’ Syrah 2023
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Region: McLaren Vale, boardering Adelaide Hills
Grape: Syrah/Shiraz
Farming: certified sustainable
ABV: 12.1%
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340m elevation, with high rainfall. Approx 60% whole bunch, across a few small open fermenters, before being pressed to neutral French oak barrels for 5 months only.
Light to medium bodied and initially a bit shy out of the gates. With more time in the glass, it laps-up oxygen and starts to reveal itself (tip: consider decanting this is serving it young). Black pepper, tart red berry, grippy, youthful tannin. I see this putting on weight in the bottle over the course of 12 months. – Ches Cook, LC Selections.
