XO Wine Co

The XO Wine Co Story

Some wineries begin with grand estates and generations of family history; XO Wine Co began with a pair of experienced winemakers, a converted shed and an enthusiasm for making wines on their own terms.

Founded in 2017, XO Wine Co is based near Meadows in the Adelaide Hills, on Greg Clack and Kate Horstmann’s 42-acre Kuitpo property. What started as a small project has grown into a distinctive label with a broad collection of limited-release wines, but the original idea has remained intact: source excellent fruit from vineyards they admire, make each batch with intent, and create wines that are interesting enough to talk about but easy enough to enjoy with friends.

The winery’s name is drawn from the game of noughts and crosses. It is a fitting image for Greg and Kate’s winemaking: a collection of possibilities, decisions and carefully placed pieces that can lead to a satisfying result. A vineyard site, grape variety, picking date, fermentation method, oak vessel and blending choice each contribute to the final picture. XO Wine Co brings these elements together with a combination of technical knowledge, curiosity and an unpretentious love of good wine.

While XO has a serious approach to fruit and detail, the wines are not designed to be overly formal. They are made for dinner tables, long lunches, impromptu catch-ups and the kinds of occasions where one bottle naturally leads to another. There is a playful edge to the label’s personality, yet behind it is the confidence of two winemakers who know their regions, understand their varieties and are willing to let a wine develop its own character.

Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale Wine Regions

XO Wine Co’s portfolio is shaped by two of South Australia’s most exciting wine regions: the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale. Each offers a different set of vineyard conditions, and together they give XO the flexibility to make wines ranging from lifted, aromatic whites to richly flavoured but balanced reds.

The Adelaide Hills is the heartland of XO Wine Co. Its elevation, cool nights and extended growing season are well suited to varieties that benefit from freshness, acidity and aromatic precision. Chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, gamay, tempranillo and syrah all feature in the XO range, reflecting the diversity possible across the Hills’ many elevated sites.

Kuitpo is especially important to the XO story. Situated in the southern Adelaide Hills near Meadows, the area is home to the winery and supplies fruit for several XO releases. The region’s cool-climate character can be seen clearly in wines such as the Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc, a single-vineyard Kuitpo release made in a bright, crisp style with citrus, tropical-fruit notes and lively acidity.

XO also looks to nearby Kenton Valley, Ashton, Woodside and Macclesfield for individual vineyard parcels. The 2024 XO Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir, for example, combines fruit from Christmas Hill and Topnote in Kuitpo with a third vineyard in Kenton Valley. Partial carbonic maceration contributes floral lift and freshness, while whole-bunch fermentation adds spice and structure.

McLaren Vale provides an entirely different dimension. Its warmer conditions are particularly well suited to grenache, and XO’s McLaren Vale Grenache brings together fruit from three vineyards and different fermentation methods to build complexity. This regional contrast is one of XO’s strengths: Adelaide Hills fruit supplies brightness and delicacy, while McLaren Vale offers depth, generosity and savoury Mediterranean appeal.

Greg Clack and Kate Horstmann, XO Wine Co Winemakers

XO Wine Co is led by Greg Clack and Kate Horstmann, two experienced South Australian winemakers with a shared affection for expressive, food-friendly wines.

Greg Clack has spent many years working in the Adelaide Hills and has also gained valuable experience in McLaren Vale. He is known for his work as winemaker at Chain of Ponds, while XO Wine Co gives him and Kate the freedom to explore small parcels, alternative varieties and wines that may not fit within a larger commercial portfolio.

Kate contributes her own winemaking experience, including a connection with Langhorne Creek’s Project Wine. Together, Greg and Kate combine practical technical skill with a low-intervention outlook. Their aim is not to impose a heavy house style over every vintage, but to make wines that express the vineyard, season and variety while retaining a sense of balance and drinkability.

This approach can take many forms. A portion of whole bunches may be included to bring spice and perfume to a red wine. Carbonic maceration may be used to enhance fruit vibrancy and aromatic lift. A white wine may be fermented in a combination of stainless steel and older French oak to create texture without overwhelming its freshness. These choices are not made for novelty alone; they help create wines with personality and a place at the table.

XO Wine Co Wines and Signature Varieties

The XO Wine Co range is varied, modern and designed to reward curious drinkers. It includes familiar favourites such as chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, grenache and syrah, alongside Italian and alternative varieties including cortese, gamay, barbera, nebbiolo and tempranillo.

For white-wine lovers, XO’s Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is an important release. The 2023 vintage was sourced from two elevated vineyards in Kuitpo and Kenton Valley, both above 400 metres. Wild fermentation, French oak, partial malolactic conversion and six months on lees built texture and complexity, while the high-elevation fruit retained an elegant cool-climate line. Production was limited to 484 six-packs.

The 2023 Vino Bianco Cortese is another standout for fans of lighter, food-focused white wines. Made from a single Ashton vineyard, it was handpicked and whole-bunch pressed, with half fermented in French oak and half in stainless steel. Lees stirring over six months helped create its creamy texture, while the wine retains crisp aromatics and mineral freshness. Only 200 six-packs were produced.

XO’s Skin Contact Pinot Gris offers a more adventurous option. With its salmon-rosé colour, rose-petal and Turkish-delight aromatics, saline minerality and savoury finish, it sits comfortably between textural white wine and pale rosé. It is particularly well suited to antipasto, grilled seafood, charcuterie and relaxed alfresco dining.

The red range is equally diverse. Adelaide Hills Gamay is made in a bright, crunchy style, showing vibrant red fruit, spice and textural interest. The 2023 release underwent extensive whole-bunch and carbonic treatment, then matured in French oak puncheons before bottling without fining. XO’s Pinot Noir and Syrah show the more elegant side of Adelaide Hills red wine, while Tempranillo delivers darker plum fruit, mild oak spice and a touch of wild mint.

For lovers of McLaren Vale wine, the Grenache is a natural choice. Its blend of fruit from three vineyard sites and varying fermentation techniques creates a layered, savoury and generous expression of one of the region’s most compelling varieties.

XO Wine Co Awards and Reviews

Despite its boutique scale, XO Wine Co has gained notable recognition for its wines. The 2021 XO Adelaide Hills Syrah received a Gold Medal at the 2022 International Cool Climate Wine Show. The wine was sourced from Christmas Hill in Kuitpo, with 20% whole-bunch fermentation for savoury spice and a small addition of viognier to lift floral notes.

Independent wine publication Winepilot awarded 95 points to both the 2021 XO Grenache and 2020 XO Single Vineyard Nebbiolo. Its 2021 Chardonnay received 93 points, while the 2021 Barbera and Cherry Pie Light Red were awarded 91 and 90 points respectively.

XO Wine Co has also appeared in Jancis Robinson’s producer database, which includes reviews of its Adelaide Hills Gamay and Project 5255 Prosecco. These reviews and show results reinforce the versatility of the XO portfolio, with recognition extending across grenache, nebbiolo, chardonnay, syrah and more experimental small-batch styles.

XO Wine Co Cellar Door and Dining

XO Wine Co is based near Meadows in the Adelaide Hills, but it does not promote a conventional walk-in cellar door with published regular opening hours. Visitors interested in tastings, wine collection or arranging a winery visit should contact XO Wine Co before travelling to confirm availability.

The winery also does not currently list an on-site restaurant, café or dedicated dining venue. Instead, XO Wine Co is best experienced through its wines: a collection made for meals, shared plates and occasions where the food is as relaxed and considered as the bottle on the table.

For shoppers seeking Adelaide Hills wines with personality, XO Wine Co offers an engaging alternative to the predictable. Greg Clack and Kate Horstmann’s wines are small in scale but broad in outlook—regional, expressive, thoughtfully made and always ready for the next good meal.