It finally happened - Rockford Stone Waller

[Croquet King]

Well after many years of supporting Rockford and my less than impressive cellar door visit over the new year, I've finally got my Stone Waller tag.
I'm thinking of going down for a lunch late in the year to celebrate a zero birthday.

I've had access to both the Basket Press and the Black for a number of years through friends that don't take up their allocation.

I opened a Basket Press 2013 to celebrate - I'm not sure its a long lived wine but was very good.

[Mahmoud Ali]

... and my less than impressive cellar door visit over the new year ...

What, you didn't dress up?

Just kidding ..... Congratulations!

[Theporkrail]

This is a winery I have given up on really. I love their Cabernet but am over the hoops that one has to jump through to simply go on the list then to access Basket press etc i have to keep ordering for years, forget it especially when as you said I can get access to the wines through friends. Stunning wines though

[Redav]

What hoops? They anyone can ring to get on the mailing list to order online. Obviously it takes time to reach the Stone Wall Society.

[mini2]

This is a winery I have given up on really. I love their Cabernet but am over the hoops that one has to jump through to simply go on the list then to access Basket press etc i have to keep ordering for years, forget it especially when as you said I can get access to the wines through friends. Stunning wines though

I've only been their 'member' since 2017 and Sharon (think she's the one looking after the members) said I can order BP/BS over the phone if I wanted to. Seems like all the folks who's recently joined the ranks of SW have been buying for 5+ years. They did say what you buy/quantity doesn't have any influence on how soon you'll become a SW.

[sjw_11]

It took me about 3 years to become a SW... I recall someone else on here got theirs at the same time and had been on the list a similar period. This was about 3 years ago I guess.

I don't find the "hoops" excessive. And you can always buy anything you want if you visit the cellar door (although BP is only available for a month or two typically). Adding in how reasonable the prices remain, and I don't think you can accuse Rockford of being too difficult.

Apart from the normal CD getting frantic at times, their service levels are pretty high as well.

[Theporkrail]

Ok ,yes its very easy to get on the list per se, but to get access to Stonewaller wines you have order right across the range good years bad years and all and still, as OP alluded to, wait several years to get access to those wines.
I understand fully that for many this isn't too much of an imposition, but I don't need to be ordering several years worth of wines I don't really want in order to get future access to the ones I do

Love when others share these with me, as I am sure they do when I share something similar from my collection

[Diddy]

Unless you're a Rockford tragic, wouldn't it be easier to just pick up the exclusive wines on the secondary market - they seem to be readily available.

[phillisc]

Unless you're a Rockford tragic, wouldn't it be easier to just pick up the exclusive wines on the secondary market - they seem to be readily available.

Interesting Diddy, I see at Wickham's 2015 BP at $126 with a guide of $140+ so the October Stonewaller flippers are hoping to double their $69 a bottle price...best to go to the punters CD about now and buy three bottles at $69. Second hand market for recent Rockford releases not the best place to purchase it seems.
Cheers Craig

[mini2]

Factor in the cost of getting to and from Barossa might make it financially viable to get it via the secondary market.

[Scotty vino]

Unless you're a Rockford tragic, wouldn't it be easier to just pick up the exclusive wines on the secondary market - they seem to be readily available.

Interesting Diddy, I see at Wickham's 2015 BP at $126 with a guide of $140+ so the October Stonewaller flippers are hoping to double their $69 a bottle price...best to go to the punters CD about now and buy three bottles at $69. Second hand market for recent Rockford releases not the best place to purchase it seems.
Cheers Craig

I'm with you here Craig. Just get yourself to the CD at the right time of year. Easy to say for us living here. But honestly, jump on the kite, spend a few days in the valley. The money you'd save on BP and the like would probably pay for your flight! ON top of that you're getting A1 provenace, building your loyalty and getting to try everyhing on hand without buying blindly.

[Theporkrail]

Unless you're a Rockford tragic, wouldn't it be easier to just pick up the exclusive wines on the secondary market - they seem to be readily available.

Interesting Diddy, I see at Wickham's 2015 BP at $126 with a guide of $140+ so the October Stonewaller flippers are hoping to double their $69 a bottle price...best to go to the punters CD about now and buy three bottles at $69. Second hand market for recent Rockford releases not the best place to purchase it seems.
Cheers Craig

I'm with you here Craig. Just get yourself to the CD at the right time of year. Easy to say for us living here. But honestly, jump on the kite, spend a few days in the valley. The money you'd save on BP and the like would probably pay for your flight! ON top of that you're getting A1 provenace, building your loyalty and getting to try everyhing on hand without buying blindly.

Not really feasible for many people especially someone like me who buys minimal SA Shiraz these days

I am happy to pick the odd one up on secondary or even at selected retail or drink OPs (other people's)

[Diddy]

Unless you're a Rockford tragic, wouldn't it be easier to just pick up the exclusive wines on the secondary market - they seem to be readily available.

Interesting Diddy, I see at Wickham's 2015 BP at $126 with a guide of $140+ so the October Stonewaller flippers are hoping to double their $69 a bottle price...best to go to the punters CD about now and buy three bottles at $69. Second hand market for recent Rockford releases not the best place to purchase it seems.
Cheers Craig

$140 through auction is a bit ambitious when they can be picked up from retail for under $100..

[phillisc]

Unless you're a Rockford tragic, wouldn't it be easier to just pick up the exclusive wines on the secondary market - they seem to be readily available.

Interesting Diddy, I see at Wickham's 2015 BP at $126 with a guide of $140+ so the October Stonewaller flippers are hoping to double their $69 a bottle price...best to go to the punters CD about now and buy three bottles at $69. Second hand market for recent Rockford releases not the best place to purchase it seems.
Cheers Craig

$140 through auction is a bit ambitious when they can be picked up from retail for under $100..

Yes true, one place in Adelaide was doing them for $85...I expect there are a few in your neck of the woods that might do same
Cheers Craig

[Redav]

Ok ,yes its very easy to get on the list per se, but to get access to Stonewaller wines you have order right across the range good years bad years and all and still, as OP alluded to, wait several years to get access to those wines.

That's why the 'society' exists; to make available to consistent supporters a product that's popular and short in availability. I'm not saying it's right / wrong / good / bad but that's what Robert decided to do with his product.

I understand fully that for many this isn't too much of an imposition, but I don't need to be ordering several years worth of wines I don't really want in order to get future access to the ones I do

As the others have said, that's what the secondary market is for. Clearly the price will be high vs the CD price but you're not spending on other unwanted wine either.

I guess whether it's an imposition or not comes down to ones finances vs patience. For me, I didn't mind and we don't even live down there nor have we even visited (a Barossa etc trip seems permanently on the back burner ). We found that my wife loves the Moppa and I love the Rifle and there's a other wines we enjoy and others we won't buy again. Some reckon that the Rifle is equally as good as the BPS. For me, having to wait wasn't a problem at all. We found it was a good problem

[Mahmoud Ali]

Personally, with two trips to the Barossa, in 1995 and 2001, I find it hard to accept that there are wines one wouldn't want from Rockford. Apart from the Basket Press, there is incredible value and quality in Moppa Springs and the Grower's Semillon, both of which I happily bought (the Basket Press was sold out). The riesling was pretty good too. And then there is the bonus of buying from other cellar doors.

Guaranteed provenance is invaluable as far as I am concerned. Any disappointment, or pleasire, is an accurate reflection of the wine. I include pleasure because a wine may survive less than adequate storage and still afford considerable pleasure but it would not be representative, and one wouldn't know it.

[sjw_11]

but I don't need to be ordering several years worth of wines I don't really want in order to get future access to the ones I do

Not really feasible for many people especially someone like me who buys minimal SA Shiraz these days

If you don't like Rockford's other wines and you don't like SA Shiraz, why on earth are you bothered about becoming a Rockford member anyway??

[Theporkrail]

but I don't need to be ordering several years worth of wines I don't really want in order to get future access to the ones I do

Not really feasible for many people especially someone like me who buys minimal SA Shiraz these days

If you don't like Rockford's other wines and you don't like SA Shiraz, why on earth are you bothered about becoming a Rockford member anyway??

Fair point !! But never said I didn't like them, have always said lovely wines , but not worth the effort to become a stonewaller IMO.