Two Hands Wines

Australia, Barossa Valley

The idea for Two Hands was born in September 1999 when founders Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz sat at a friend’s engagement party and decided it was time to make their own wine and market it on the world stage. The original aim was, and still is, to make the best possible shiraz-based wines from prized growing regions throughout Australia. With so much Australian wine being sold around the globe under multi-region labels in a formulaic style, the intention was to break the mould and showcase the diversity of Australian shiraz by highlighting regional and vineyard characteristics by allowing the fruit to be the primary feature of the wines.

Winemaking at Two Hands is seen as a labour of love, a passion, and a craft. Michael and Richard have walked trough every vineyard, made every picking decision and tasted every individual barrel of each wine we’ve ever produced. The estate vineyards are pruned, trained and picked by hand to minimise tractor movements and soil compaction. In winter, cover crops are grown between the rows to promote soil vitality and the Scottish Highland cattle contribute to the 300 tons of organic compost they add back into their vineyards each year, so they can continue to support the natural balance within the vines.

Winemaker & owner

Two Hands Wines

From the outset, Two Hands set out to be unique and innovative, this approach is reflected in everything from the names of the wines through to, not least, the wines themselves. From small beginnings, the winery has been able to manage its growth organically whilst maintaining an absolute quality focus. Premium grapes are sourced from the finest shiraz growing regions in Australia, and Two Hands works closely with its estate vineyards and band of growers to ensure the full potential of each vineyard is reached.  They handle every parcel of grapes, however small, separately from crushing through to fermentation and oak maturation to ensure complexity and personality in the finished wines.

The wines are all a product of the vineyard, where Michael & Peter make all the picking decisions based on flavors and tannin ripeness in early morning walks through the harvest season from February to April each year. Minimal intervention and oak handling thereafter allow the character of the fruit to shine through.  Six months after vintage, every barrel in the winery is blind-tasted by Michael and Chief Winemaker Richard and given a classification grade associated with its place in the Two Hands portfolio. With this focus on detail, it means only the best barrels make it through and quality is maintained even in the toughest vintages, albeit at lower quantities.

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“Integrity through region and varietal from vine to glass.”

 

Winemaking

Our philosophy

Sustainability is at the core of Two Hands Wines. Every decision is made for the long-term benefit of the stakeholders and the regions from which our wines are made.

  • Two Hands Wines are certified under the Australian Wine Industry Standard of Sustainable Practice.

  • The vineyards are pruned, trained and picked by hand to minimise tractor movements and avoid soil compaction

  • They encourage biodiversity within the estate vineyards in multiple ways

  • The secret to the success of Two Hands lies with the dedicated team of hard-working professionals who uphold the ethos of ‘quality over compromise’.

Collection

Our wines

The secret to the success of Two Hands lies with their dedicated team of hard-working professionals who uphold the ethos of ‘quality over compromise’. They strive to produce wines that reflect their origin, meaning they show the characteristics that we associate with the regions and vineyard sites from where the grapes were sourced.

Sexy Beast Cabernet SauvignonThe Boy RieslingHoly Grail Shiraz

Two Hands Wines, Australia, Barossa Valley

Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale, Australia

A nice wave of fruits enter your palate, this springs forth in layers and slowly caress the palate with moderately weighted dark fruits. On the late palate the fruits turns to have a stony edge and minerality which dries out the late palate. This is very easy to like Cabernet, and it show you the wonders of this varietal when it all comes together. The tannins are driving, fruit filled and with a slight bitter edge. You will notice that enjoyment finishing for quite a long time with cellaring.

Two Hands Wines, Australia, Barossa Valley

The Boy Riesling

Riesling, Eden Valley, Australia

The Boy is the epitome of an Eden Valley Riesling with it’s exotic aromatics. Sourced from a 108 year old, dry grown vineyard to the north on Mengler’s Hill.

Two Hands Wines, Australia, Barossa Valley

Holy Grail Shiraz

Shiraz, Single Vineyard, Barossa Valley, Australia

A bouquet of smoke, dark plum, violets, coffee grind, glazed berries, liquorice, tar, sarsaparilla and incense. This is a big wine straight out the gate, it shows loads of concentrated fruits that are both energetic and powerful. As with all the top vintages from Holy Grail, this has the amazing ability to spring board into a soft natured wine. It starts out big but then changes gear and the finish comes across soft, fresh and lingering. Out of all the 2021 Single Vineyard bottlings, the Holy Grail is the one that seems to be the most reserved, it’s very tightly coiled up and it takes time in the decanter to start to see its inner energy and class emerge. The tannins are stony, with a lovely soft and lingering edge. They reverberate giving this wine excellent length, that slowly dissipates in the late palate. This wine is built for the long haul in cellaring, and we believe it will need 3 to 4 years to start showing its true potential. Patience is required but the rewards will be great.

Wine advocate 2023: 94 points