Australia’s Sons of Eden Wines Return to Our Shelves
Simon Cowham and Corey Ryan. Copyright 2019 John Kruger
If the quality of grapes is a measure of a wine, then the measure of a winery is the quality of the people who make it. By that estimate, Sons of Eden is one of the best Australian producers out there. Based at Artisans of Barossa in Tanunda, Sons of Eden is a joint project of industry veterans Corey Ryan and Simon Cowham. Corey spent 25 vintages working across Australia and New Zealand at renowned wineries like Villa Maria and Penfolds in South Africa. In 2016, he was named a finalist for Australian Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller and Barossa Winemaker of the Year by Barons of Barossa. Simon focuses on viticulture and has worked at Yalumba, managing Pewsey Valley and St. Hallett in the Barossa. Also named Winemaker of the Year by Barons of Barossa in 2013, Corey and Simon together boast nearly 50 combined vintages.
One of their most pivotal vintages was back in 2000 when they worked side-by-side at one of Australia’s best and most iconic producers, Henschke. By the end of that vintage, they had already laid plans to venture out on their own. The name "Sons of Eden" reflects their connection to the Eden Valley, a subregion of the Barossa known for producing powerful, acid-driven Barossa Shiraz that blends levity and freshness with power and drive. Corey and Simon have focused on building relationships with top growers in the region, producing wines that capture the unique sense of place that is the Eden Valley. Their lineup features powerful, concentrated wines that balance boldness and complexity. Here are some of their new offerings, which have been on hiatus from the U.S. market and are now available exclusively at K&L.
The Eden Valley is defined by two key varieties: Shiraz and Riesling. The 2021 Sons of Eden "Cirrus" Riesling High Eden Valley $19.99 is a single-vineyard Riesling from one of their highest-altitude sites. Incredibly floral, with notes of jasmine and honeysuckle mingling with red fruit, lime juice, and lemon zest. This Riesling is incredibly racy—lean, powerful, and bursting with acidity, finishing with a mineral-laden backbone. It’s a no-holds-barred Riesling that hits all the high notes.
We’re also presenting the 2023 Sons of Eden "Freya" Riesling Eden Valley $34.99 96DC. Although not a single-vineyard Riesling, this blend from three different vineyards across Eden Valley represents the pinnacle of what Corey and Simon, as well as the Eden Valley, can achieve with Riesling. It offers a wealth of minerality, with crushed stone, early-season nectarine, and orange peel. There’s a touch more weight and balance here—a sense of refinement and excellent construction.
While lighter-style Grenaches are gaining popularity in South Australia, the 2022 Sons of Eden "Notus" Old Vine Grenache Barossa Valley $34.99 is a classic take on the variety. Sourced from three old-vine vineyards with an average age of 80 years, it features notes of smoked meat, strawberry liqueur, bergamot, and intense concentration. The fruit sweetness carries across the palate to a finish accented by crunchy tannins and resonating flavors of black cherry and boysenberry.
One of the most exciting wine stories emerging from Australia is South Australia’s embrace of Italian varieties. There are now over 28 producers of Nero d'Avola in the Barossa, along with Sangiovese, Aglianico, Fiano, and others. The Studium series by Corey and Simon offers a chance to experiment with new varieties, such as their 2020 Sons of Eden "Studium" Montepulciano Eden Valley $34.99. This wine exhibits the typical hallmarks of their style: boldness, concentration, and generous fruit, complemented by elements of charcuterie and plum preserves. It showcases a vertical structure with acidity that hits all the right moments—a great example of the unique and exciting Italian varieties coming out of the Barossa.
Our flagship from Sons of Eden is the 2022 Sons of Eden "Marschall" Old Vine Shiraz Barossa Valley $19.99. Made from exceptional mature vineyard material, including parcels from Light Pass, Ebenezer, and Menglers Hill, this wine will please any fan of the style—and even those who are not yet. The aromas feature a complex interplay of rotundone spice and fruit flavors: black pepper, star anise, and dried orange peel contrasted with Luxardo cherry, crushed blackberry, and cherry cola notes. The slight grip of tannins at the end of the mid-palate carries through to a satisfying finish. This is an outstanding, well-crafted Barossa Shiraz that’s a must-try.
Finally, we rarely see Eden Valley Cabernet in U.S .wine retail, so I’m particularly excited to present the 2022 Sons of Eden "Eurus" Cabernet Sauvignon Eden Valley $39.99. Eden Valley Cabernet has a distinctive profile—darkly fruited with excellent aromatics and immense concentration. The Eurus exemplifies this style with a dominant expression of black cassis, red cassis, pyrazine, clove, and anise. On the palate, it’s dense and mouth-coating, with trembling tannins that persist through the finish. A fantastic example of a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from a region seldom seen here in the US.