Ngeringa (Adelaide Hills, Australia)

Husband & wife team Erinn and Janet Klein run Ngeringa. They planted their vineyards in 2001 and have begun releasing wines to the public very recently; 2013 is the first year these wines will be available in NYC, though we got a sneak preview with some samples in 2012. In addition to vines they have cattle and sheep, as well as orchards, an olive grove, and vegetable gardens. 

They have five hectares planted over two distinct areas. Both areas were certified biodynamic in the 1980s (since before their vineyards were planted). They ferment with wild yeasts, and use just a small amount of French oak. 

plot 1 (Nairne): 
syrah & viognier plantings
Westerly aspect (in Southern hemisphere)
soils is micaceous schist and sandstone over clay

plot 2 (Mount Barker Springs):
chardonnay & pinot noir plantings
Easterly aspect (in Southern hemisphere)
soil is sandy loam and ironstone

They have also recently started working with sangiovese, nebbiolo, and aglianico in a different part of their Mount Barker Springs vineyard. 

Here is what they have to say about the importance of biodynamic farming: 
"Our approach to both the growing and the making of the wine is traditional-- doing much in the vineyard by hand and being as least interventionalist in the winemaking as possible. We respect biodynamics as a sensitivity to the rhythms of nature, the health of the soil and the connection between plant, animal and cosmos. It is our inherent belief that only through the practice of biodynamics can we allow the vineyard to reach its potential."

The Kleins are one of five Australian biodynamic producers that are currently members of Nicolas Joly's "Renaissance des Appellations" (along with Castagna, Cobaw Ridge and Jasper Hill in Victoria, and Cullen in the Margaret River). 

I particularly enjoyed the lovely, rich and balanced '09 chardonnay, and the J&E '09 syrah!