Once again, Grenache plays the starring role in Bondar’s Rosé, weighing in at 83% of the blend, rounded out by the balance of Cinsault and Mataro. The entirety of the fruit is sourced from Andre and Selina Bondar’s Rayner vineyard. Most Grenache vines at the sandy Rayner Vineyard are 55 years old, with a small block of younger material also included in the mix. The Cinsault and Mataro are grown on the home site.
After the earliest vintage on record at Bondar in 2025, 2026 returned to a much later harvest with a mild, slow finish after a bit of early heat.
Andre used a variety of techniques to build complexity and texture. The Grenache and the Cinsault fermented at cool temperatures to preserve bright, primary characters. Then, for weight, texture and savoury character, the Mataro fermented at warmer temperatures with full solids in a ceramic amphora. The result is a pure, fresh, layered rosé packed with juicy red-fruit flavour, chalky, pithy grip, and a refreshingly long, watermelon-drenched close.