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After twenty years of the most distinguished winemaking, having amassed over sixty trophies and three hundred gold, including a Jimmy Watson and twice International Red Wine Maker of Year, David O'Leary and Nick Walker came home to Valley Clare. Two heart surgeons from Adelaide own the Doctors Vineyard at Polish Hill River. OLeary Walker» |
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Amherst is a town rich with colourful history and local folklore, site of the first official gold find in 1851, it launched a mining rush which expanded throughout central Victoria. The district's long association with viticulture is also prolific and colourful. Amherst» |
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Steeped in history, the original Baileys store was situated next door to the Glenrowan Inn where widow Jones hosted Ned Kelly's siege. Following the gold rush, the Baileys turned to farming and settled on a property which they named Bundarra. Baileys Glenrowan» |
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Characterized by its controlled power, elegance and finesse, a very special Pyrenees wine which redefines the great Cabernet virtues of stature, structure and length. The inaugural release claimed Gold and Best Wine ahead of two timeless Bordeaux icons, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Cos d'Estournel. Taltarni» |
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Enthused by a consuming desire to make great wine, Andrew Nugent honed his craft as viticulturalist and winemaker amongst the vines of McLaren Vale before returning to the Adelaide Hills, where he established his very own wineworks at Woodside. Hand crafted from fruit grown to mineral rich soils above the historic Bird in Hand gold mine, a pure Pinot Noir with superb effervescence, dominated by red berry characters, adorned by a lift of stonefruits and floral.. Bird In Hand» |
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Positioned half way between Avoca and Ballarat, the modestly sized Amherst have only ten acres under vine. The small yields translate into extraordinarily structured, powerfully intense wines, brimming with fine aromatics and lined with silky tannins. Amherst» |
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Villa Maria possess the magic touch with Pinot Gris, regularly clearing international wine events of prestigious trophies. Private Bin has been included in the Decanter Top 50 Best Under £10 and identified as a Decanter favourite. Villa Maria» |
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The uncompromising pursuit of excellence brings the Yealands team to the extreme viticultural climes of Gibbston Valley in Central Otago. It is here under the frigid cloudless night skies that Pinot Noir vines, planted to undulating granite schist soils, struggle to yield harvests of parched grapes, redolent with cherry berry perfumes, bursting with an intensity of flavour and wrapped in a muslin of seamless, velvet tannins. Yealands Estate» |
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The Moppa district was a flourishing settlement of pioneering farmers and gold miners. When the Kalleske vineyard was established in 1853, there were few schools in the region, so local parents established the Moppa Public School to provide their children with a formal education. Kalleske» |
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By one of the most consequential winemakers in the greater Canberra GUI, crafted from Shiraz grown to mature vines at Kyeema, on an elevated granite saddle near Murrumbateman. Reserve Shiraz has enjoyed a series of compelling national trophy wins, including Best Red Sydney Royal Wine Show. Collector» |
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Whole bunches and oak barrel ferments, the costly extravagance of three years tirage on sedimentery yeast lees, each bottle individually riddled by hand, disgorged and sent to cellar for the ultimate indulgence of extra age before release, Pamela is the zenith of the sparkling winemaker's art. Her luxurious effervescence exudes brioche, tarte tatin and French boulangere, her creamy textural mousse unravelling ribbons of rich yeasty autolysis, crème caramel and baked fruits. Wicks» |
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Bloodstone was originally intended for the UK Oddbins retail chain. It turned into a runaway success and went on to claim a litany of international accolades, 5 Cuisine Magazine Stars & Best Buy, as well as Gold & Double Gold at the prestigious San Francisco International. Gemtree» |
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Mount Mary
About Mount Mary - the Winery
Mount Mary
Established 1971 by John and Marli Middleton, Mount Mary was one of the first sites planted during the resurgence of interest in Yarra Valley wines
The inspiration behind the planting of vines in the Yarra Valley came from Swiss settlers of the 1850’s. These worldly and hard working immigrants had been greatly influenced by French wines and recognised the climatic parallels the Yarra Valley shared with Bordeaux and Burgundy. After extensive visits to the wine producing areas of the world in the late 1960’s, and in particular those of Bordeaux and Burgundy, John and Marli Middleton became fixated on French premium wine. They resolved to find a suitable site upon which to establish a small commercial vineyard with the intention of making elegant, low alcohol wines from French varieties. John was obsessed at this stage with an idea put in his head by Colin Preece of Great Western, that Australia was yet to produce a refined and elegant Cabernet. John saw it as his duty to work towards this.
John Middleton had already led a very active and healthy life during which much was achieved. He came to Lilydale in 1952 after service in the RAAF and medical training at Melbourne University. Although he had the opportunity to specialise, he chose to establish himself as a dedicated family doctor in what was then, a predominantly rural community. His fascination with wine began in his late teens and never faded. Mount Mary was the vehicle by which he fulfilled his dream to produce wines of great quality. And so it was that in 1971, John and Marli stumbled upon the property known as Mount Mary. Surprisingly this ideally located, gentle north facing slope had not been planted to the vine yet they immediately recognised it as being ideal for their purpose.
The first plantings were completed by mid 1972 and today Mount Mary has around 40 acres under vine representing 18 varieties of varying age and distribution. The low yielding unirrigated vineyard is almost 12.5 hectares and is planted on grey soils – sandy clay loams overlying degenerating Silurian shales. The vines face due north and capture optimum sunlight during the growing season.
More than half the land area of Mount Mary is not directly related to wine production. The health of the property is of primary concern and there is a long term objective of being self sufficient in energy and water. The winemaking team are also keen to limit any impact on the environment through revegetation and weed control.
The four wines produced by Mount Mary come from 10 varieties. Two wines are based on Bordeaux blends accounting for 8 varieties and two wines are the common varietals from Burgundy. Over the past few years, a Rhone Valley blend based on 7 varieties has been developed. The 18th variety is Pinot blanc.
Mount Mary is a truly family business. All the Middletons share a great love of nature and an equally great disdain for authority and bureaucracy. John Middleton Sr was ahead of his time, he summed it up best when he argued that the classical Medoc balance has always been traditionally towards firm, cedar, cigar box, green olive, leafy Cabernet. All the great Bordeaux have powerful violets, cherry and mulberry, and the undercurrent of cedar, cigar box and green olive or leaf, not the jammy examples that taste like a sweetened dummy. Who wants a fruity red which with time in the cellar approaches more and more towards a dry port? Despite the many challenges that have been presented to Middletons over the years, progress towards environmental goals continue. Whilst there is still a long way to go in terms of becoming the ideal environmentally aware organisaton, Mount Mary have continued with their planting program and water and energy system designs.
Revegetation areas are already attracting increased numbers of native birds. Snow Gum conservation area is looking good. Mount Mary is continuing with a program of collecting a variety of native seed for propagation. Also on the agenda is the completion of a gully wetland project. The ultimate goal of environmental works is to be energy and water efficient relying less on outside supply, provide additional habitat for native species and to limit any negative impacts by containing and treating waste products on site. Renewable power, water collection and recycling and redesigned facilities are at the centre of these improvements. It's all about making the greatest possible wine out of a totally clean environment.
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