Grampians, Victoria
Westgate has been home to the Dalkin family since the property was selected by Matthew Dalkin in the 1860's. Six generations have lived at Westgate and today Bruce & Robyn Dalkin are the Custodians of a property that has seen a range of farming activities with the focus today on wine grape production incorporating a small winery, tourism and wool production. These are lovely cool climate wines but with a very tiny production limited to less than a pallet of each variety every year we can only supply small quantities each year.
Owen & Robyn Schmidt established their vineyard in the rolling hills over looking Bass Strait in Koonwarra South Gippsland in 1999. Their wines are typical cool climate style with emphasis on quality rather than quantity with the Pinots in particular being outstanding examples of what a cool region can produce given careful use of even base material and the right weather! All of their wines are keenly priced and we note that the added advantage of their Guest House on the vineyard encourages people to explore this up and coming Victorian region.
Garden Gully is built on the original Salinger's Hockheim winery site which originated in the 1870's and operated as such until 1945. The vineyard produces a Riesling, a Shiraz and a Sparkling Shiraz; the 2005 Riesling is sourced from the property's 50 year old vines and has received 5 star rating from most of the professional wine writers; It has a lifted floral and citrus aroma and is crisp refreshing style on the palate with a dry finish to create a classic Great Western style of Riesling; the Shiraz is sensational and the Sparkling Shiraz takes all of us back to those halcyon days of the Great Western Region.
David & Wendy Lloyd purchased this most picturesque of vineyards in 1995 which features some of the most spectacular views of the Mornington Peninsula. The vineyard is 225 meters above sea level and is on rich terra rossa volcanic loam on a northerly facing slope hence sheltering it from harsh winds and allowing a long cool ripening period.
