The Wine Farm is where we grow the wine we want to drink and
the food we want to eat. It's where our kids get muddy, our dog
can howl without upsetting the neighbours and we can breathe.
Certifiably insane
It’s official. Last week we received an important piece of paper in the mail advising us we can now proudly declare ourselves ‘Australian Demeter Biodynamic in conversion’. But what the hell does that mean?
First, a quick re-cap on the biodynamic bit and why we’ve chosen to farm this way. No we’re not talking about the esoteric crap that so many associate with biodynamics thanks to a small but vocal group who like to espouse the powers of the cosmos. We’re talking about science. Then, a look at why we’ve decided to certify. When we first bought this property and set about converting it to organic we really didn’t imagine we would need to take this step. We were doing it simply because we believed it was the best way to take care of our land and make good wine. So what changed our minds? And why did we choose Demeter Australia as our certifying body? Do we have rocks in our head? You tell us.
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When the fruit entering your cellar looks like a still life and you’re already painting a mental picture of the final product, you can’t help but wonder if this might be the one. 2017 was a great year for growing Pinot noir in South Gippsland.
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When we bought The Wine Farm five years ago we inherited eight varieties of grapes in two types of soil and varying states of health. Now they’ve had a chance to show their true potential in this cool climate and with our way of farming, it’s time to make some changes.
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If your typical cab sav is dark and broody, our Farm Wine Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is bright and light on its feet with gentle tannins, a lovely texture and no sharp edges. Think raspberries not blackcurrants; herbs not tobacco.
Think uber not black cab.
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Vintage 2019 was tracking along nicely. Probably the best yet for our short tenure on The Wine Farm. But just as we were sharpening our snips in preparation for picking, three days of 35–40°C stopped us in our tracks and got us all hot under the collar.
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‘Cool climate’ is a term that gets used a lot in the wine world but not always appropriately. It’s the weather during ripening that really counts, and the closer to picking the more of an impact it has on the ultimate style of your wine.
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Buying an existing vineyard without really knowing its potential is something you could lose a lot of sleep over.
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Great wine is the sum of hundreds of decisions from vineyard to bottle. As the ‘maker’ all I do is try to make the best decision I can at any particular point in time.
MoreWe are gradually releasing our 2017 vintage (and a few we've been saving from previous vintages) to our mailing list. Subscribe to Letters from The Wine Farm to be the first to hear about new releases at subscriber prices and build your own case of 6 or 12.
If you can't wait perhaps our sample pack may quench your thirst...
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In 2014, having fallen for the region in general and the potential of its grapes in particular, we took the biggest plunge so far. We poured our joint worldly effects into a small patch of dirt down the road. An unassuming address we thought might just have everything we needed to start creating our own little world. Good soil, eight thousand vines, a great big shed and lots of bedrooms to fill.
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The worker’s cottage on the property is available for short stays. Bring some friends, check out the region and its spoils and soak up The Wine Farm.
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