Few producers capture the energy and evolution of McLaren Vale quite like Brash Higgins. Founded by New York sommelier-turned-vigneron Brad Hickey, and McLaren Vale local Nicole Thorpe, the estate has become synonymous with innovation, Mediterranean varieties and a fearless embrace of amphora. After a career in food and wine that took him from New York to Paris, Brad landed in McLaren Vale for a vintage in 2007 and never left. Nicole, whose family had long ties to the region, had planted a small vineyard in 1997 on the distinctive red clay and limestone soils of Omensetter Vineyard. What followed was a long experiment in pushing boundaries—of grape varieties, winemaking methods, and expectations of what McLaren Vale could be. Their first wine was a bold move: estate-grown Nero d’Avola, fermented in locally made amphora. Inspired by producers in Sicily like COS and Cornelissen, Brad and Nicole commissioned terracotta vessels from Adelaide potter John Bennett, marking the beginning of a journey into texture, structure, and alternate expressions of Mediterranean varieties.
Since then, Brash Higgins has grown into one of the most distinctive micro-producers in the Vale. The certified organic Omensetter vineyard is now home to plantings of Nero d’Avola, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zibibbo, and more. The wines are minimal intervention but deeply expressive—whether it’s the juicy energy of the early-drinking NYMPH, the oxidative complexity of BLOOM, or the elegant structure of their flagship Nero.
Wines on tasting
Brash Higgins CHN Chenin Blanc 2024 – Blewitt Springs
Brash Higgins ‘ZBO’ Zibibbo-Amphora 2025
Brash Higgins 'Bloom' Chardonnay 2017
Brash Higgins Smart Vineyard Grenache 2022
Brash Higgins RIPPLE Nero/Shiraz 2025 - Omensetter - Organic
Brash Higgins Grenache/Mataro 2022 - Blewitt Springs Biodynamic
Brash Higgins Shiraz 2023 - Omensetter - Organic
Brash Higgins Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 - Omensetter Organic
Brash Higgins Nero d’Avola 2023 - Omensetter Amphora Organic
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