Background of the Veritas Winery

Mother-Franzicka and father-Rolf Heinrich came to Australia from their respective countries of Austria and Hungary. They arrived in 1950 as part of the large influx of post-war immigration to Australia. The couple worked with the Victorian railways for three years. During that time they met Elmore Schulz, a train driver and grape grower in the Barossa Valley. In 1953 they picked grapes in the Barossa, where they met Chris Vohrer and Wilhem Abel, local winemakers. At the end of their indenture with the Railways in 1954, the Binder's worked a vintage in the Vohrer and Abel winery. This is the much-loved old winery on Langmeil Road that they went on to purchase in 1955.

The demand at this time was for fortified wines, but slowly a market increased for red table wines. This market developed from the immigrants working at the new industries in Whyalla, Port Pirie and Port Augusta. Highlights include the first of the Bulls Blood which was made in 1967 and was called 'Bikaver'.

Development of the Modern Wine Styles and Awards

Later came the realization of the great riches of the Barossa Valley in old vine Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache. Experiments at Veritas and a number of other, mostly small, Barossa wineries followed, and led through the 1980's to the release of many exciting old vine varietal blends.

Veritas slowly gained recognition and in 1996 and 1997 was awarded the Trophy for Best Small Producer and the Trophy for the Best Barossa Shiraz at the Barossa Wine Show. In 2002 Veritas again won the Trophy for the Best Small Producer. More recently Veritas has been awarded twice in 2002 and 2003 the Trophy for the Best Semillon at the Barossa Wine Show. In 2002 Veritas were the makers of the top three pointed semillons at the Barossa Show and included the gold medal and trophy winning wine.

Wine Styles - White and Red and Fortified

Veritas make Barossa Valley and Eden Valley white wines varietals such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Red varieties made at the winery from the greater Barossa region, encompassing the Barossa Valley and the Eden Valley, as well as other small outlying areas, include Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro (Mourvedre), and Grenache. All our significant red wine brands are sourced from the Barossa Valley.

Wines are made under contract for other small growers and we also provide wood storage for small wineries.

The Name Change to Rolf Binder Wines

Until 2004 wines carried the family brand of Veritas. As interest in the wines grew in the United States this term caused confusion with another Veritas wine brand. Now all the wines destined for overseas are branded Rolf Binder.

We use that term Veritas on this site for past references and older wines referred to particularly vintage tasting notes. We also have an exclusive Tasting Room range labelled under the name Veritas, and these wines are not sold anywhere else.

The top four reds of Rolf Binder in order of distinction are Rolf Binder Hanisch Shiraz, Rolf Binder Heysen Shiraz, Rolf Binder Hubris Shiraz Mataro and Rolf Binder Heinrich Shiraz Mataro Grenache.

Rolf Binder Heysen, because of trade mark issues, is not sold in Australia. The Rolf Binder Hubris has an immense following in Australia under its old name of Veritas Bulls Blood Shiraz Mataro 'Pressings' and we continue with that name.

About Rolf Binder Hanisch

Hanisch was first produced in 1991. Production is tiny at about 300 to 350 cases. It cannot be increased as it comes from a small number of vines on a particular part of the home block that surrounds the winery. The home blocks are given the name Chri-Ro after Christa and Rolf. This vineyard was planted in 1972 by Rolf Binder Senior and is a mixture of Shiraz, Grenache and Semillon vines.

In 1968 Veritas purchased from 'Punch' Hanisch a block of ground that was then incorporated into the Chri-Ro vineyard holding. This was planted to vines in 1972 and by the mid 1980's it was recognized that one part of this vineyard made intensely expressive Shiraz. The first Shiraz bottled separately was the 1988 though it was not called Hanisch at that stage but 'Long Rows'. The wine is aged partly in new American oak and a smaller amount in new French oak which has been matured in the Barossa Valley for two years before being made into barrels by A.P.Johns of Tanunda and partly in older French and American oak.

This small vineyard area produces about 12 to 16 barrels and at the wine classification stage this is reduced to perhaps 10 to 12 barrels. The declassified Hanisch is used in Bulls Blood and other bottlings.

Rolf Binder - Veritas Awards

2006 finalist awarded to Rolf Binder for the Gourmet Traveller Wine / Kemeny's Winemaker of the Year Awards

2005 Barons of the Barossa Winemakers of the Year jointly awarded to Christa Deans and Rolf Binder, the brother and sister winemaking team of Veritas Winery.

Awarded twice in the last four years: Trophy for the Best Semillon at the Barossa Show

In 2002 Veritas were the makers of the top three pointed Semillons including the gold medal and trophy winner at the Barossa Wine Show.

The winner of the Best Small Producer Award at the Barossa Wine Show three times in the last eight years.

Back to back Trophies in 1995 and 1996 for the Best Shiraz at the Barossa Wine Show and the Trophy for the Best Small Producer. The last is awarded for a crush of less than 500 tonnes.

Awarded the Trophy for the Best Small Producer at the Barossa Wine Show in 2002.

The English wine magazine 'Decanter' featured the Veritas Hanisch 1994 as one of the 'Top Three Australian Shiraz'.

The Veritas 'The Malcolm' 1996 was awarded 99 out of 100 by the influential New York wine critic Robert Parker in his 1998 Wine Advocate, at the time the highest ever pointed Australian wine.

A strong appraisal of all Veritas reds by the New York wine critic Robert Parker in his influential 'Wine Advocate', June, 2001, which included a rating for the Veritas 'Hanisch' Shiraz 1998, of 99 points out of 100. An average of all of his reviews of shiraz made by Veritas gives a current rate of 95 out of 100.

Included in the consumer 'Winestate' magazine 'Jewels of the Barossa', March-April, 2003. Nine vintages of the Veritas Hanisch were rated as - three with five stars, five with four and a half stars, and one with four stars.

13 bottles to the dozen.