Named after Reverend John Bleasdale, an anti-temperance South Australian priest, Bleasdale winery was founded by Frank Potts in 1950 and is one of the longest running family owned wineries in Australia. Originally intending for a life as a carpenter, Potts purchased, cleared and planted his first plots in Langhorne Creek in 1958, and soon expanded his holdings to include over 30 acres.

One of Bleasdale's claim-to-fame is Frank Potts' Basket Press, crafted from red gum trees. The press measures 15 meters in length, is 7 meters high and weighs over 3.5 tonnes. Winemakers Paul Hotker (also the viticulturist) and Matt Laube occasionally use the massive 120-year-old press for reserve wines. Although famed for their full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, Bleasdale also produces an astounding array of blends and unusual varietals. The winemaker's skills don't just lie in red wine production, however, as they craft exquisitely refreshing white wines, sparkling and fortified.

If you like Australian wine, then you probably like South Australia wine. The rich reds produced there put Australia on the wine-making map of the world. With over 40% of the countries vineyards, South Australia can rightfully call itself the wine state.

Wines are produced in several regions throughout the state, though many are naturally grouped together, like Barossa and Eden Valleys, only 15 minutes apart. They include such regions as Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Eden Valley, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek, The Limestone Coast, McLaren Vale and Wrattonbully to name but a few!

Barossa Valley boasts some of the oldest vines in Australia dating back to 1843 and produces some of the world's finest Shiraz, whilst the 'terra rossa' soils of Coonawarra is most suited to producing outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons. If you're a fan of Riesling, Clare Valley is a great place to explore and for a Maritime climate not dissimilar to parts of the Italian coastline, seek out the wines from McLaren Vale.