By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Nestled in the cool-climate Adelaide Hills, the Bird in Hand winery has just unveiled two remarkable additions to its prestigious Nest Egg range: the 2023 Nest Egg Chardonnay and, for the first time ever, the 2022 Nest Egg Syrah.
Each bottle is individually numbered, a collector’s item and a testament to Bird in Hand’s unwavering dedication to precision, elegance and site expression.
For wine lovers, these drops are created only in the finest vintages, drawn from carefully selected high-altitude sites, where cool nights and extended ripening seasons allow fruit to develop complexity, finesse and structure.
As Senior Winemaker Sarah Burvill explains: "The Nest Egg collection represents the pinnacle of our winemaking. A considered expression of place, shaped by season.”
Guided by intent, each release aims to reflect the character of the Bird in Hand vineyards and the precision of their craft. These are rare wines embodying the pursuit of excellence and created with a clear vision for longevity, elegance and distinction.
2023 Nest Egg Chardonnay: A Cool-Climate Masterpiece
The 2023 Nest Egg Chardonnay is a study in balance and refinement. Limited to 2400 bottles and vegan-friendly, the wine draws from three premium Adelaide Hills vineyards, including the iconic Woodside Estate.
Sarah describes the conditions that shaped this release as ideal. "The 2023 Nest Egg Chardonnay benefited from a cool La Nina year in the Adelaide Hills - a long, mild ripening allowed pristine fruit intensity, exceptional natural acidity and layered complexity to develop.
"Every stage of its handling was uncompromising: hand-picking, whole-bunch pressing of only free-run juice, fermentation in the finest French oak and 10 months on lees. The result is a textural yet elegant Chardonnay of great purity and longevity.”
In the glass, the wine lifts with aromas of nectarine, yellow peach and citrus blossom, layered with delicate notes of cashew, vanilla bean and honeysuckle. The palate is generous, framed by bright lime, pink grapefruit and subtle sandalwood spice.
Every sip reflects the care in the vineyard and the cellar, with vibrant acidity and a long, elegant finish that invites both immediate enjoyment and thoughtful cellaring.
2022 Nest Egg Syrah: Debut Elegance
The Nest Egg range’s debut Syrah is equally captivating, representing Bird in Hand’s exploration of cool-climate red wine. "Bird in Hand has long nurtured Syrah in its Woodside Estate vineyard, where higher elevations, cool nights and extended ripening seasons allow the variety to reveal its more refined, aromatic character,” says Sarah.
"These conditions naturally enhance elegance, perfume and spice - qualities that define cool-climate Syrah at its best. The 2022 vintage offered an ideal convergence of factors. Mild, dry conditions preserved fruit purity, encouraged even ripening and produced tannins that are ripe yet restrained – all without excessive alcohol.
"From carefully selected Syrah blocks and clones best suited to our soils, we harvested fruit of striking balance, detail and finesse. This harmony of site and season made 2022 the perfect moment to introduce a Syrah under the Nest Egg banner,” she adds.
As a result, this is a wine that doesn’t rely on sheer power; instead, it is defined by aromatic lift, structural precision and quiet intensity - a true expression of both the Adelaide Hills and Bird in Hand’s ambition to craft benchmark cool-climate wines of international standing.
Handpicked from three cool-climate sites, including Woodside Estate, the Syrah also underwent wild fermentation with a significant whole-bunch component and matured for 16 months in fine-grained French oak barrels.
The result is a wine that’s intensely aromatic, revealing blackberry, blueberry, black pepper, violet florals, herbal spice and hints of dark chocolate. Fine tannins and bright acidity give structure and length, making it a wine that promises both immediate appeal and rewarding cellaring for years to come.
Craft, Sustainability and Collectibility
What makes these releases so special is the combination of craftsmanship and care for the land. "Bird in Hand’s philosophy has always been about respect - for vineyard, environment and consumer,” says Sarah.
"Sustainability is at the core of our philosophy - every choice we make is about protecting the land while elevating wine quality. These practices mean our wines are not only world-class but also a testament to long-term care for the land that sustains them,” she adds.
With only 2400 bottles of the Chardonnay and an extremely limited number of Syrah bottles, these wines are as much a collector’s item as a tasting experience. Sarah advises that each is built to reward both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring.
"Upon release, the Chardonnay reveals crystalline citrus, white stone fruit and layers of oak-derived spice - evolving with time into savoury richness and deeper complexity. It will comfortably reward 10+ years in bottle. The Syrah is already captivating, offering lifted florals, spice and silky tannins. Over the next decade, it will deepen into darker fruit, earth and savoury nuance - gaining gravitas without losing finesse,” she says.
From the bright precision of the Chardonnay to the aromatic elegance of the Syrah, Bird in Hand’s Nest Egg range captures the essence of the Adelaide Hills. These releases are a rare invitation to experience cool-climate winemaking at its most refined, a story of patience, place and pure craftsmanship waiting to be uncorked.
To shop the range, click here.
