Eagles Point Estate - RED CLIFFS, MURRAY-DARLING Situated on the Murray River, in north-western Victoria, Eagles Point is part of Sandford Estate, situated in Red Cliffs. The white is 70% Colombard and 30% Chardonnay and is deliciously fresh and floral with plenty of racy, ripe fruit. The red is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot and is very open and soft with plenty of blackcurrant-lead fruit and soft, supporting tannins. Both these wines are remarkable value.
Brown Brothers - MILAWA This dynamic, yet traditionally rooted company, has been supplying us with premium Victorian varietals since the early 1980’s. Both John and Patricia Brown died recently but their sons and their grand children are carrying on the family’s long tradition of varietal research and vineyard development. This exceptional range of wines comes from their own Milawa, Mystic Park, Banksdale, Whitlands and Heathcote vineyards and they also operate an unusual ‘Bonus Contract Scheme’ with a number of growers in the King Valley, whereby they pay higher prices than usual for grapes on the understanding that each grower submits themselves to a rigorous quality control. These are wines with extremely bold, yet balanced and focussed fruit.
Mitchelton - GOULBURN Mitchelton was recently bought by the giant Lion Nathan group but the brilliant wine-maker, Don Lewis, has completed his third decade at this Goulburn Valley vineyard and his cooler-climate Marsanne displays classical varietal characteristics of honeysuckle and melon balanced with a fine racy acidity. Neil Robb at Redbank, in the Pyrenees region, makes very concentrated wines that are full of character.
Zilzie Estate - KARADOC, MILDURA, NORTH-WEST VICTORIA The Forbes family have farmed the Zilzie Estate since 1911 but the vineyards were only planted in the early 1970’s. They currently cultivate 1500 acres of grapes and are on of Southcorp’s major grape suppliers. However, they are now developing an exciting range of small-batch, estate-bottled wines and have caused some major ripples in the Victorian wine world. The ‘Selection 23’ wines, named after the original block of land that they acquired in 1911, are very appealing, fruit driven wines that over outstanding value. New to this year’s selection is the zesty, zingy and fragrant Sauvignon Blanc. The estate Shiraz has recently won Gold Medals at the Royal Perth and Royal Queensland shows and is definitely the Forbes’ flagship wine.
Redbank Wines - PYRENEES Redbank was established in the Pyrenees region of Central Victoria in 1973 and has established a reputation for producing wines of excellent value and quality. New varietal styles from high altitude vineyards in the King Valley and a Shiraz from the long established premium wine growing area of Heathcote add another dimension to this impressive stable.
Campbells - RUTHERGLEN The Campbell family winemaking heritage began in 1870, when Scotsman, John Campbell vintaged his first wine from his " Bobbie Burns" vineyard. The venture prospered and by 1885 he had 15 hectares planted to vines. At this time phylloxera (a root sucking aphid), which had been infesting vineyards throughout the world, arrived in Rutherglen. Over the next decade, most of the Rutherglen vineyards were destroyed. Determined to maintain the business John's son, David embarked on a program of replanting vines on phylloxera resistant American rootstocks and, by 1930 18 hectares of vines were flourishing and in 1961 Allen's elder son, Malcolm took up the reins of responsibility, to be joined by his brother, Colin in 1968, upon completion of his winemaking studies at Roseworthy. In the ensuing years the brothers have pursued an uncompromising goal of quality in all aspects of viticulture and winemaking. Today the vineyards total over 64 hectares and their wines are known and appreciated in major markets throughout the world including the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada.
Stonier Wines - MORNINGTON PENINSULA Established in 1978 by Brian Stonier and his wife Noel in the coastal town of Merricks, Stonier is considered a pre-eminent Mornigton Peninsula producer of wines made from some of the region's oldest vines. The fist Chardonnay was planted in 1978 with Pinot Noir following in 1982 and the cool maritime climate proved ideal for these early ripening varieties. Since 2003, Geraldine McFaul has been the winemaker having joined Stonier in 1996 after graduating from Charles Sturt University with distinction.
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