Showcasing South Australia

When two good mates get together, one the Chief Winemaker with a major winery, the other with a passion for wine – the inevitable had to happen and Purple Hands Wines was created.

Craig Stansborough and Mark Slade started Purple Hands in 2006 from humble beginnings. Just over a tonne of hand picked Shiraz was crushed and barrel fermented in Craig’s shed making around 100 dozen. Then came the hard part – finding a name for their new wine brand.

Their home vineyard – Stansborough is situated in the Southern Barossa just north west of Williamstown. Literally, a stones throw from the Whispering Wall reservoir.

The 32 acre vineyard is planted on perfect Shiraz dirt, friable red clay over limestone. The vineyard plantings include Shiraz, Montepulciano and Aglianico. The southern end of the valley is recognized as the “cooler” end of the valley, with slightly lower temperatures and longer ripening periods to develop flavours.