Arfion
Dave Mackintosh, a New Zealand expat, spent much of his time working with Giant Steps guru Steve Flamstead after arriving in Australia in 2006. With Mackintosh setting up Arfion in 2011, that friendship took on a different layer with their shared trans-Tasman label, Salo. Arfion, however, is a Yarra Valley only operation, making lo-fi expression of classic Yarra varieties, while the more experimental Smokestack Lightning range delves deep into the world of skin contact and whole bunch ferments for white grapes.
Ph: 0431 973 832
W: arfion.com.au
Dappled
Shaun Crinion worked around the world before settling in the Yarra, launching his dappled label in 2009. Although he ventures out on the Mornington Peninsula and Macedon for some wines, his core is multi-site Yarra blends of pinot noir and chardonnay under the ‘Appellation’ banner and single site offerings expressing notable vineyards, typically from the Upper Yarra.
Hoddles Creek Estate
The D’Anna family run one of Melbourne’s most beloved independent temples to food and wine, Boccaccio Cellars. They have also invested significantly in the Yarra Valley, planting a vineyard in the cool of the Upper Yarra near Gembrook. They make aspirational pinot noir and chardonnay offerings from single blocks, multi-block blends under the 1er label, and also incredibly accessible bottlings under their Wickhams Road imprint. The D’Anna’s were also pioneers of pinot blanc, now making two tiers of the variety.
A: 505 Gembrook Rd, Hoddles Creek 3139 VIC
Ph: (03) 5967 4692
W: hoddlescreekestate.com.au
Mac Forbes
Having worked at Yarra icon Mount Mary, Mac Forbes plied his trade as a consultant in Austria before founding his own Yarra-based label. Mac has long championed the diversity of the Yarra’s sub-regions, sourcing from vineyards predominantly on the grey loam, rather than the red volcanic soils, both on the valley floor and into the higher reaches of the Upper Yarra. Today, all those sites are on long-term leases, with Forbes’ team meticulously managing the viticulture. Fine, elegant styles are the focus here, with chardonnay and pinot noir leading the way. His cellar door, Graceburn Wine Room, is also an excellent wine bar and bistro.
A: 11a Green St, Healesville VIC 3775
Ph: (03) 5962 3704
W: macforbes.com/graceburn.com
Luke Lambert
Luke Lambert’s day job is making wine for the Denton family from their revered View Hill vineyard, which is also where Lambert sources the fruit for his hugely respected nebbiolo. It is for that great Italian grape that Lambert is perhaps best known, and ultimately what he will focus his energy on, but he is equally adept at turning out lithe and spicy syrah, echoing but not imitating the Rhône, flavourful but vibrant chardonnay, as well as great value options under his Crudo label.
Mayer
Timo Mayer worked at De Bortoli when it was reshaping much of the thinking about making pinot noir, shiraz and chardonnay, as well as for a significant tenure at the superb Gembrook Hill. He was also turning out wines from his own close-planted Bloody Hill site, with vine age now at a point where he makes wine of significant pedigree. Mayer’s motto is “bring back the funk,” which captures his pursuit of character and individuality over the clinical and the mass produced. He uses plenty of whole bunches in his ferments, even with cabernet and nebbiolo, and also makes wine in his home region of Remstal, Germany.
A: 66 Miller Rd, Healesville VIC 3777
Ph: (03) 5967 3779
W: timomayer.com.au
Thick as Thieves
Syd Bradford worked for some of the Yarra’s finest makers for over a decade before striking out on his own, making some less-familiar varieties and blends, including an arneis and a mix of Sylvaner and gewürztraminer. With the day job well and truly shifted to his Thick as Thieves label, Bradford now works from his own vineyard on the valley floor, making a couple of tiers of pinot noir, as well as sourcing locally and in North-Eastern Victoria for things like gamay and nebbiolo. The wines here are pure, lithe and fiercely individual.
A: Healesville-Kooweerup Rd, Badger Creek VIC 3777
Ph: 0417 184 690 355\
W: tatwines.com.au
Some More of the Best
- Bicknell F.C.
- Bird on a Wire
- Bobar
- De Bortoli Wines
- Denton View Hill Vineyards
- Gembrook Hill
- Giant Steps
- Goodman Wines
- Handpicked Wines
- Hoddles Creek Estate
- Jamsheed
- Journey Wines
- Levantine Hill
- Oakridge Wines
- One Block & Maison de Ong
- Out of Step Wine Co.
- Payten & Jones
- Precipice
- Proud Primary Produce
- Punch
- Punt Road Wines
- Rob Hall
- Rochford Wines
- Salo Wines
- Santolin Wines
- Serrat
- Six Acres Wines
- Soumah of Yarra Valley
- St Huberts
- TarraWarra Estate
- The Wanderer
- Thousand Candles
- Tokar Estate
- Toolangi
- Yarraloch
- Yering Station
