Thistledown Wine Company

McLaren Vale, South Australia

Awards & Recognition

  • Grenache of the Year – 2025 & 2022, Halliday Wine Companion

Brand Overview

Thistledown is a fusion of wisdom, foresight, and bold confidence. Masters of Wine Giles Cooke and Fergal Tynan sought to challenge international stereotypes of Australian wine by creating precise, thirst-quenching Grenache with vibrant red fruit. Drawing on experience making and selling wines in Spain, they focus on small-batch micro-ferments handled with exceptional care, producing wines that are both elegant and expressive.

Critical Acclaim

  • “Thistledown is quickly becoming one of the great stories in Australian fine wine.” — Anthony Madigan, Madigan Media

  • “They rival the very finest in the world.” — Ned Goodwin MW, Top 100 Wines, James Suckling

  • “Winemaker Giles Cooke MW is somewhat of a folk hero these days… His Thistledown wines have appeared in every one of the last five Best Reports, and they are universally loved by all who taste them.” — Matthew Jukes, Best Australian Wines

  • “A sophisticated player at the Barossan table. Their Shiraz wines, much like their Grenache, have become more refined and transparent.” — Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com

  • “Among Australia’s very greatest reds.” — Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion

  • “Raise a glass to the best of the best… Grenache is the key obsession of Brits Giles Cooke MW and Fergal Tynan MW.” — Huon Hooke, The Real Review

  • “The gorgeous range of wines from Thistledown are exactly that: sleek, classy, and easy to drink.” — Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate

 
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