Often described as the ‘Holy Grail’ of winemaking, pinot noir production is a fickle business at the best of times, yet our region has successfully produced premium world class examples with layers upon layers of complexity, depth of flavour and beautiful textures, mouth feel, and overall balance. Elegance and finesse are the keys to success alongside perfumed pinot fragrance and aromatics with ripe and aromatic dark cherry fruits and layers of undergrowth/forest floor complexities lurking underneath the dark fruits and perfumed spice that are seamlessly soft, and supple in texture. If you’re intending on getting to know what all the fuss is about in respect to quality pinot noir, then Geelong pinot noirs are are great place to start.

Geelong pinots have been described as sensual and seductive. Filled with complex berry/forest floor/earthy/spice/cigar aromatics and seductively supple sappy fruit flavours that can drive many a winemaker to distraction with its demanding nature.

It’s immensely intensive, physically, mentally and monetarily speaking as every little production process is a demanding, hands-on approach, as the grape is thin skinned, temperamental, prone to disease, and difficult to grow, as it requires certain regional conditions to produce it’s best. Yet, given patience, persistence and passion, the results can be sublime to say the least.

Some 15-20 years ago the variety was still in its infancy in the domestic market, and with young vines and steep learning curves ahead, many producers were very much finding their way with the grape, which meant that style wise it was a bit all over the shop, and many a lover of big reds just couldn’t handle the more pretty charms of the much lighter variety, but over the last 10 years or so we’re now starting to see much more regional character and definition in the wines, as the vines mature and the winemaking becomes better and more attuned.

A classic Geelong Shiraz boasts striking depth of colour and bouquet with an opulent complex palate. Flavours range from vibrant red berry and dark plum to rich black fruits coupled with cool climate pepper and spice entwined with silky textured tannins.

The vibrant lifted floral/savoury aroma’s, the generous, but oh so supple and rounded textural mouthfeel with rich blackberry fruits, meaty charcuterie/spice/liquorice/pepper and raspberry characters that can seem opulent yet balanced, not exaggerated. Teeming with flavour and complexity, this is Geelong Shiraz.

Geelong Shiraz is super fragrant, the bright and perfumed Asian savoury spice notes scream for this to be served with Asian food! The weight is medium bodied, and overall the feel is old world, the key being that old French oak barriques have been used and allow the purity of the fruit and expression of the vineyards to shine. The regional DNA of complex dark fruits, pepper and spice are imbedded of course, but again it’s the meaty complexity and mouthfeel that win you over.

Long celebrated for its sophistication, a Geelong chardonnay is typically cool climate displaying delicious stone fruit characters, fresh citrus finish and a distinctive Burgundian creamy texture when aged.

Geelong Chardonnays have been described as elegant and with a sublime mineral complexity This flinty/leesy complexity in the aromatics and more mineral/flinty/gunsmoke notes in amongst their signature creamy textured palate coating flavors of stone fruits, nougat and lees character with excellent weight, and balance completing the picture.

Here in Geelong we are producing some very fine examples of Sauvignon Blanc that are redefining what Australian Sauvignon Blanc is all about – freshness, vibrancy and varietal expression.

Sauvignon Blanc is another very popular variety here in the Greater Geelong region but don’t expect the kind of super pungency of the New Zealand style as our Sauvignon Blanc’s tend to be more elegant and restrained in style yet still show some crunch and punch in the tropical fruit department with fresh, lively vibrancy that is typically representative of the variety. Expect flavours of gooseberry, passionfruit, with a pronounced grassy/herbaceous character yet overall the flavours are subtle and rounded on the finish.