Owner and winemaker, Tim Adams, began his career in the wine industry as a cellarhand at the Stanley Wine Company in 1975, steadily working his way through the ranks to become winemaker in 1981 following graduation. The first inclination to leave came in 1985, when Tim and his wife were approached by local cooper Bill Wray to form a partnership of the two families to make wine and small oak casks. The first wines under the Adams & Wray label were released in September 1986, by which time Tim had left the Stanley Wine Company. In May 1987 the Adams & Wray partnership was dissolved, and Tim and his wife Pam took full control of the renamed Tim Adams Wines. In late 1987 they purchased the existing winery site and opened the cellar door in January 1988.

Tim Adams Wines

Winery of the year 2009
“(…) The quality is consistently great.”
Tim Atkins, The Observer Magazine UK, The best wines of 2009

Tim Adams

Finalist, Gourmet Traveller ‘Winemaker of the Year Awards 2010′
“(…) Tim Adams’ wines are classically Clare: good, honest drops of generous flavour, ageing ability and regional style. Shiraz and riesling are the most important varieties. The Fergus, a grenache blend, which now incorporates tempranillo, is outstanding value as a ready-to-drink but serious quality red. His rieslings are among the finest and most ageworthy in Clare. And his new varieties are adding fresh strings to what is already a formidable bow.
Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller Wine, June/July 2010

Great Wine Drives: Clare Valley
“Of all the Clare cellar doors, I am most tempted to fill my boot at Tim Adams Wines (Warenda Rd, Clare, 08 8842 2429). Adams is one of the harder-working winemakers in the country and this is reflected in every one of his well-priced wines. He is attuned to texture and structure above overt flavour, so every wine is honed and accurate. With more than 10 wines to taste, this is a great place to experience a diverse range of varieties.”
Tyson Stelzer, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Great Wine Drives: Clare Valley, Aug/Sept 2010

Tim Adams Riesling

Gold Medal (2009 vintage) - International Riesling Challenge 2009

96/100 points, 5/5 stars, ‘Best of the Best’ and ‘Best-value wines $25 and under’ (2009 vintage)
Nick Stock, The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2010

95/100 points (2009 vintage)
“…very fresh and dry with a persistent core of fruit tightly punctuated by zesty lime juice acids.  Outrageously cheap.”
Jeremy Oliver, www.jeremyoliver.com.au, Feb 2009

93/100 points (2009 vintage)
“A charmer”
“Ultra clean with a pretty blossom perfume, some spice and a mix of lime and lemon. It’s light and very pure with particularly handsome crunchy acidity that makes itself known, but discreetly. Has a sort of subtle citrus sorbet flavour (try saying that three times after having three glasses) that’s most appealing. Finishes clean and dry with a little tweak of mineral. For my tastes excellent now, but should cellar well if you have a mind to do so. A charmer.”
Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, Jan 2010

Tim Adams ‘Reserve’ Riesling

‘Best Buy Wines: Wines to Cellar’ (2008 vintage)
“A very fine, essential expression of modern riesling. Scented with a piercing and deeply fragrant perfume of lime juice, lemon rind, white flowers, talc and fresh apple, it’s especially pure and penetrative. While it has a roundness and juiciness in mid palate, it’s tightly cut and sculpted, delivering a bright, crystalline purity of concentrated fruit over a fine, chalky texture down its entire length, before finishing with crispness and austerity. A decade or more is clearly in order!”
Jeremy Oliver, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Aug/Sept 2010

Tim Adams Semillon

(2009 vintage)
” (…) It tastes of lemongrass, toast, lanolin – maybe even nectarine. Twenty-five percent of this wine went into new French oak, but other than signs of spice and toast – the oak has largely been sucked up by the richness of the fruit. (…).”
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, Sept 2010

Gold Medal (2008 vintage) – International Wine Challenge 2009

Tim Adams Pinot Gris

(2009 vintage)
“Fortunately, one of this country’s most celebrated pinot gris is also one of its most affordable. A gorgeous pale salmon hue introduces an elegant palate, which perfectly juxtaposes pear and lychee fruit with textural phenolics and great finesse.”
Tyson Stelzer, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Great Wine Drives: Clare Valley, Aug/Sept 2010

Tim Adams ‘The Aberfeldy’ Shiraz

93/100 points (2006 vintage)
“A fine, long and elegant shiraz whose vibrant presence of dark berries, plums and fresh dark chocolate/vanilla/cedar oak is backed by spicy, lightly peppery and meaty undertones.”
Jeremy Oliver, www.jeremyoliver.com

Langton’s Classification: Distinguished

Tim Adams Shiraz

‘Best Shiraz $21 – $50′ and 93/100 points (2007 vintage)
“Slippery, smooth, rich and delicious. Packed with plummy, vanillin, minty flavour and then controlled and dry through the finish.  Not a hair out of place.  Hints of complex earthiness in the background – flavours that should perform very well as the wine matures.  Gorgeous red-wine drinking.  Drink 2010 – 2016.”
Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh, Big Red Wine Book 2010-11

Tim Adams ‘The Fergus’ Grenache Blend

Top Gold (2006 vintage) – International Wine and Spirits Competition 2009

18/20 points (2006 vintage)
“…a budget icon.”
Matthew Jukes, Decanter Magazine, April 2010

93/100 points (2006 vintage)
“Smooth and savoury with a dusty, meaty and earthy fragrance…”
Jeremy Oliver, www.jeremyoliver.com, Aug 2008

Tim Adams ‘Reserve’ Tempranillo

‘Best alternative reds over  $25′ and 93/100 points (2008 vintage)
“Talk about juicy!  Lots of tangy, citrussy acidity here though it doesn’t intrude – it’s part of the ride.  This isn’t mega-intense but you could easily argue that it’s megadelicious.  Flavours of sour cherries and earth, cloves and sweet berries.  Flashes of spice.  Excellent wine.  Drink 2011 – 2015.”
Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh, Big Red Wine Book 2010-11

90+/100 points (2008 vintage)
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, Sept 2010

“Impressive (… ) (2006 vintage)
Intensely flavoured mid-palate, with a dry, savoury finish (…). The oak is substantial but perfectly weighted to support the powerful fruit.”
Ray Jordan, The West Australian, July 2008

Tim Adams Cabernet Malbec

(2006 vintage)
“Tim Adams makes wine to shape, not flavour, and the classic Clare duo of cabernet and malbec are the ideal ingredients to build structure. It’s sinewy and upright, so be sure to give this skeleton a decade or two in your cellar to grow some flesh.”
Tyson Stelzer, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Great Wine Drives: Clare Valley, Aug/Sept 2010

‘Best red blends over $20′, 93/100 points and ‘Authors’ Choices’ (2006 vintage)
“Fabulous.  The glory of Clare Valley cabernet, in a glass.  Lots of earthy tannin, lots of curranty-leathery fruit flavour, modest but apparent vanillin oak, and an earthen-toasty finish.  It has complexity, regionality, balance, structure and charm.  Drink 2011 – 2016.”
Campbell Mattinson and Gary Walsh, Big Red Wine Book 2010-11

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