3 Rings

Three Rings launched in 2004 as a collaborative project between the Hickinbotham family, wine importer Dan Philips, and winemaker Chris Ringland. The name of the label refers to three tenets of production: historic place, exceptional fruit, and adept winemaking. The Hickinbotham family has maintained a presence in the Australian wine industry for several generations. David Hickinbotham is the grandson of Alan Robb Hickinbotham, who established the oenology course at Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1936 and is often cited as a major figure in the development of professional winemaking education in Australia. Today, the family business is managed by David and Dena Hickinbotham along with their son, Alan Hickinbotham, who serves as the winemaker.

The winery sources its fruit primarily from the estate's 64 acre Biscay Road Vineyard, located near Tanunda and Bethany. The site is characterized by ancient soils composed of heavy black clay and sandy loam over a base of calcrete and slate bedrock. These conditions naturally restrict vine yields, resulting in concentrated fruit. For the Reserve Shiraz, the winery uses grapes from the Kalimna sub-region, where the vines average 85 years in age. Winemaking techniques include fermentation in open-top vessels to maximize skin contact and the extraction of color. The wines are typically aged in a combination of new and seasoned American oak barrels to develop depth while preserving the primary fruit character.

Shiraz is the primary variety for the producer, which is known for its intense color and flavor profiles that include dark berries, cedar, and spice. While Shiraz is the signature, the portfolio also includes Cabernet Sauvignon and Durif. The label has a reputation for offering high quality Barossa wines at an accessible price, frequently earning scores of 90 points or higher from international critics and appearing on various lists for notable value. It is regarded as a reliable representative of the South Australian winemaking style, focusing on the expression of old-vine fruit and the specific terroir of its estate holdings.