Brash Higgins is Brad Hickey's wine label. In 2007 Brad, a New York City sommelier, swapped his wine knife for a pair of secateurs and came to work vintage in McLaren Vale, South Australia. In true Aussie tradition, his name was summarily changed to 'Brash' which provided a ready alias to work under the radar - Brash Higgins.

Brash Higgins might as easily be the title of a picaresque novel as a new wine label. The road bringing Brash's creator, Brad Hickey, to the rich terroir of his Omensetter Vineyard winds through two decades in virtually every aspect of food and wine across four continents.

The fruit for the Brash Higgins Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% sourced from Brad and Nicole's recently renamed Omensetter Vineyard. Planted in 1997, the vineyard sits on a great patch of dirt on the south-western lip of McLaren Vale, situated on seven hectares of red-brown clay over limestone (Ngaltinga Formation and Pirramimma Sandstone) with an eastern sloping aspect, offering grand views to the Willunga Escarpment and Gulf of St. Vincent.

In 2009, the Sicilian red variety nero d'avola was grafted on mature shiraz rootstock in the Omensetter Vineyard. Originating from Italy, nero d'avola is named for Avola in the south of Sicily and considered by some the most important grape varietal in the region. Its love of hot, dry climates makes it the perfect alternative red for Australian conditions.

This estate grown nero d'avola is maturing in five 200 litre clay amphoras, hand-created by Adelaide master potter, John Bennett. The wine is set for release in early 2012.

Brash Higgins also produces a Grenache Mataro, hand-picked from two specific McLaren Vale sites on the same day and co-fermented producing 117 cases in 2011.

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