Meet Hollick "The Bard" — Coonawarra's Tribute to a Forgotten Poet

There's a story behind every great wine, and Hollick's "The Bard" range carries one worth telling.

Hollick Wines is a privately owned, boutique winery in Coonawarra, South Australia — part of the Limestone Coast wine zone, prized for its terra rossa soils sitting over limestone. The estate spans three vineyards: Neilson's Block, planted by Ian and Wendy Hollick back in 1975; Wilgha, added in 1987; and Red Ridge in nearby Wrattonbully, developed in 1998. Together they cover more than 85 hectares, and Hollick is a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.

The Bard range takes its name from lyric poet John Shaw Neilson, who once lived in a cottage on the Hollick property — a nod to the estate's literary roots that carries through to the label art itself.

The Bard Chardonnay (Item #70278, $18.99) pours pale straw with notes of honeydew, hazelnut, and vanilla. The 2024 vintage earned 90 points from Wine Orbit.

The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon (Item #70279, $18.99) is cherry red in the glass, with cassis, mint, and spice leading to a long, elegant finish. The 2022 vintage scored 90 points from Wine Orbit, and a prior vintage earned 91 points from Natalie MacLean.

Both wines are now available at Manitoba Liquor Marts and beyond.