Glug commenced by offering Barossa Valley wines though making wines from all the districts of the Adelaidean-Mount Lofty Range was the aim. Thus McLaren Vale followed a few vintages later, with the first Roxton was from the 2008 vintage.
Historically McLaren Vale plantings preceded those of the Barossa Valley by a few years, 1840 to say 1843, and as a maker of table wines its recognition was far greater than the Barossa Valley until well into the 1970s.
Now they are great rivals and the appeal for drinkers is to enjoy the coastal setting of McLaren Vale and compare this to the inland setting of the Barossa Valley, set well back in the Range.
Roxton has a long history as a McLaren Vale brand though had faded and abandoned by the 1960s. The advanced customer should compare and enjoy Merlot from McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley with our view being McLaren Vale has the edge.
