The Project
“While we all like to dream, and though there may well be a million suns out there, we have but one sun and one planet to protect.”
Supporting Sustainable Farming:
We use fruit farmed in a certified sustainable manner and we are members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
We strongly believe that sustainability relies on respecting our environment, our community and our commercial partners with an end goal of producing delicious wines, responsibly.
Sustaining the river
The mighty Murray river is the lifeblood of Australia.
Stretching across three states, the river feeds a diverse array of agriculture as it powers its way through New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia before entering the Southern Ocean close to Goolwa.
Since the early soldier settlements, which gifted agricultural land to returning solders, the health of the Murray has been inextricably linked to the fortunes of Australian winemakers.
With ever increasing pressure on the river, those motivated by the need for long term sustainability must turn their minds, and their actions, to the responsible use of this most valuable resource.
Restoration
Some of the work currently underway:
- Enhancing existing native vegetation around the vineyard by the introduction of groundcover around the River Red Gum trees.
- Increasing the biodiversity through planting insect attracting plants which provide food and shelter for “good bugs” thus preventing the dominance of pests.
- Increasing use of cover crops to improve organic composition of the soil, suppress weeds and reduce evaporation of water while improving the resilience of the vineyard to heatwaves.
- Restoration and maintenance of the Yatco wetlands which cover 346 ha so that the wetlands fill and drain more naturally, allowing for “flushing of the system and better water quality.
- Through the restoration of wetlands, the equivalent of 1200 Olympic sized swimming pools has been saved every year!
- Improving the natural balance of the river through the reduction of non native fish species and improvement of habitat for frogs, birds and native vegetation.
People
Sheridan Alm & Giles Cooke MW
Working in conjunction with the Alm family, we draw on fruit grown on one single vineyard in South Australia’s Riverland. As well as growing superb fruit, they are committed to enhancing the health of the river on which they rely. All fruit is farmed under the watchful eye of Sheridan Alm, 2019 Australian Women in Wine Awards – Viticulturalist of the Year.
Million Suns wine-making is overseen by Giles Cooke, Master of Wine, who, with Thistledown has been acclaimed for producing an array of award winning delicious wines with a strong emphasis on old vine Grenache.
Wines
Sourced from one vineyard, close to Moorook in South Australia’s Riverland. All fruit is accredited through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
While growing fruit sustainably is a core commitment, the quality of the fruit is of paramount importance too.
Great fruit quality begins the process of making delicious wines, while intense concentration on picking times and emphasising energy and freshness, is at the heart of the wine style.
Our aim is to make delicious wines
that don't cost the earth.
The 'single vineyard' launch range comprises:
- Shiraz Grenache
- Grenache
- Grenache Shiraz Mourvédre (GSM)
- Chardonnay
- Grenache Rosé
Put quite simply, without a healthy river, large parts of Australia are unviable. In that context, wine seems quite trivial. But for us, wine is life and so we are committed to producing wines that make a deposit to the bank of Mother Nature rather than just a withdrawal.
Press & Reviews
Million Suns Grenache 2021
'A soft garnet hue. The nose reveals notes of red fruits, cherries, warm earth and spices. This is a pleasant and rather simple style but very attractive, nonetheless. What one might term as easy drinking. A wine of medium length with slightly grippy tannins.'
Million Suns GSM 2021
'A pale ruby garnet, we have aromas of coffee grinds, red fruits and raspberries, which provide for a pleasing and lifted nose. Medium weight, fine but rather soft tannins and decent length here, this is simple and pleasant drinking, a wine which doesn’t require endless thinking and analysis.'
Million Suns Grenache 2022
'From vineyards in the Riverland region, the colour is a reasonably pale crimson. The nose gives us spices, herbs and red fruits – cherries and raspberries. This is a gentle and easy to enjoy style with a medium length finish. A wine of good balance, it will provide pleasure now and over the next three to four years.'
Million Suns Grenache 2021
'Splendidly ripe and inviting, the bouquet shows dark plum, dried herb, star anise and toasted almond characters, leading to a succulent palate offering supple texture and silky flow. Tannins are fine and polished, making it well structured and harmonious.'
Million Suns GSM 2021
'Attractively fruited and fragrant, the wine shows dark plum, dried herb, game and hazelnut aromas, followed by a silky palate that's juicy and plump. Beautifully rounded and elegantly flavoursome with a fine, dry finish.'
Million Suns Grenache 2022
'It's nicely lifted and complex, showing ripe cherry, olive, clove and nutmeg aromas on the nose. The palate delivers juicy fruit flavours with smooth texture and polished tannins, finishing lingering and supple.'
