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Description
Gareth and Rainbo Belton are the Gentle Folks, both in name and in sensibility. They are gentle, soulful people, both originally seaweed experts, who turned their hands to farming grapes with an organic and sustainable approach. Today they are crafting some of the most legitimately exciting and exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Adelaide Hills and are firmly rooted in the upper echelon of Australia's lo-fi wine scene.
Their wines cover multiple sub-regions across the Adelaide Hills. There are no additions during the winemaking process, save for a splash of SO2 at bottling to keep the wines pristine as they travel from the Beltons' home to yours. The worlds of fine wine and natural wine collide in the Gentle Folk range. They are beautiful people making increasingly breathtaking wines that you definitely want to check out.
- 2025 Gentle Folk Sauvignon Blanc
- 2025 Gentle Folk Riesling
- 2025 Gentle Folk Chardonnay
- 2025 Gentle Folk Pinot Noir
- 2025 Gentle Folk Sangiovese
- 2024 Gentle Folk Syrah
2025 Gentle Folk Sauvignon Blanc
Last year, we named the 2024 release of this wine our 'Bargain White of the Year'. It was a massive hit, and we are thrilled to report that the 2025 is every bit as good.
Winemaker Gareth Belton calls this his "homage to the great Sauvignon Blancs produced in this country," and he is not joking around. This is a million miles away from the simple, tropical fruit bombs often associated with the variety. It is a serious, textural white wine that demands attention.
Sourced from 22-year-old vines in Summertown, the fruit is whole-cluster pressed and sent straight to neutral French barriques and hogsheads for eight months. This barrel fermentation is the key. It builds a layer of savoury complexity and creaminess that sits perfectly against the natural acidity of the Adelaide Hills.
Refined, nuanced and beautifully put together, it sits comfortably alongside the big guns of the Australian scene. Watch out Sorrenberg.
"A homage to the great Sauvignon blanc's produced in this country!"
- Gareth Belton (Winemaker)
2025 Gentle Folk Riesling
Gareth Belton regularly jokes that he drinks about half the production of this wine himself. It is one of his absolute favourites to drink at home, and once you taste the 2025 release, you will understand why.
This wine has been a labour of love for Gareth and Rainbo. Sourced from the Scary Gully vineyard, it hasn't always been easy to nail - often foiled by birds or rain at the last minute. But this year, everything came together perfectly.
Whole-cluster pressed and aged in terracotta eggs for nine months, it possesses a distinct powdery, grippy mouthfeel that sets it apart from your standard stainless-steel Riesling. While the fruit profile is riper this year, the wine itself is actually a little drier than the past couple of releases. It sits in that "very slightly off-dry" sweet spot where the sugar is barely perceptible, acting only to amplify the fruit and balance the acidity.
The balance is spot on. It is textured, delicious and right in the zone.
2025 Gentle Folk Chardonnay
Increasingly, Chardonnay is becoming the headline act in the Gentle Folk range. Gareth Belton is producing some of the most thrilling examples in the Adelaide Hills, and this 2025 release might just be the most complete version of his "Village" blend yet.
This wine is a composite picture of the region, sourced from Gareth’s top sites across the Hills, including Ashton, Scary Gully, Summertown and Piccadilly. The vines range from 5 to 32 years old, digging into complex soils of sandstone, schist and quartz.
While previous releases have sometimes been tight and racy in their youth, the 2025 is noticeably richer and more generous. The fruit weight is substantial this year, and the oak integration is seamless right out of the gate.
Vinified with 100% whole clusters and aged for nine months in a mix of French and Austrian oak (20% new), it delivers exceptional flavour development. There is still that signature racy backbone of acidity, but it is wrapped in a layer of flesh and texture that makes it stunning to drink immediately. It is complex, it is settled, and it is seriously good.
2025 Gentle Folk Pinot Noir
This is the wine formerly known as 'Village', and it remains the absolute core of the Gentle Folk lineup. However, long-time fans will notice a distinct shift with the 2025 release: it is darker and plusher than we have seen this wine in some time.
Gareth and Rainbo Belton source the fruit for this blend from a serious collection of Adelaide Hills sites, including Monomeith, Little Creek, Scary Gully and Piccadilly. Ranging in age from 5 to 37 years, these vines sit at high elevations (up to 620m) on a mix of sandstone, schist and quartz.
While previous releases have leaned into a lighter, "sloshable" vibe, the 2025 vintage brings more weight and texture to the party. It still sees about 20% whole cluster fermentation (with some 100% whole bunch components for lift), but the resulting wine is deeper and more generous than the cooler couple of vintages that have come before the '25.
It offers a core of dark cherry and spice that feels significant in the glass. It is still honest and unpretentious, but there is a little more meat on the bones this year.
2025 Gentle Folk Sangiovese
"We love Sangiovese above all other grape varieties. There... we said it... As good as lunch wine gets we reckon, and who doesn't love a wine at lunch!"
- Gareth Belton (Winemaker)
While the Adelaide Hills is perhaps more famous for Shiraz or Chardonnay, winemaker Gareth Belton has a serious obsession with this Italian variety, declaring Sangiovese his absolute favourite grape to work with. The 2025 release shows exactly why - it is a serious step up from the "smashable" style often seen in the rest of the country.
Sourced from vines in Charleston and Forreston (aged between 16 and 27 years), this is a wine built on patience. Gareth fully destems the fruit and leaves it on skins for a total of six weeks (three weeks fermenting, three weeks post-ferment maceration). This long soak allows the tannins to soften into a wonderful "chewy" framework.
Maturation takes place in a mix of hogsheads, terracotta and foudre for eight months. The result is sublime. It is full of blue fruit and spice, elegant yet structured, and the ultimate partner for a long lunch.
2024 Gentle Folk Syrah
Relationships are so important for winemakers looking to source great fruit in premium regions like the Adelaide Hills.
So here, Gareth and Rainbo lean on some friends who are real grower heavyweights in the region; sourcing fruit from Murdoch Hill, and the Turnbull family for their Shiraz.
This wine is perfectly ripe, with all the cool climate traits of pepper and perfume. This is some serious wine, showcasing the value of having the right friends.
94+ points
"Like most of the Gentle Folk portfolio, this evolves over days in much the same way as a living thing, breathing in air and changing shape, opening and unfurling... On the palate, there are more floral elements, with notes of cassia, cinnamon bark and blue plum. The natural acidity keeps the wine's pulse energetic. This is a remarkable bottle for the price."
- Katrina Butler (Halliday Wine Companion)
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Adelaide Hills |
| Australian State | SA |
| Size | 7 |
Gentle Folk
Gareth Belton in one of his vineyards - Basket Range, Adelaide Hills, SA Gentle Folk
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