Inspired by the classic South Australian wines of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly Penfolds, the visionary Roman Bratasiuk, a former biochemist, bought the old Elysium winery at Blewitt Springs, near Clarendon in McLaren Vale. By chance he found the nearby 10 acre Astralis Vineyard as a source of "as good as you can get" Shiraz. The vines were first planted in 1920 with 19th century colonial vine-stock derived from Chateau Reynella. Best known for the flagship wine Astralis Syrah, Clarendon Hills also produces a portfolio of single vineyard age-worthy Grenache & Syrah wines derived from 35 to 75-year-old dry grown vines, from the Clarendon, Blewitt Springs and Kangarilla sub-regions of McLaren Vale.