Finalist Archives - Young Gun of Wine

467 Twenty Four Road, Margaret River

Claudia Gant has evolved the 467 Twenty Four Road vineyard – established by her father Graham Lloyd in 1998 – with a rich tapestry of varieties, from Margaret River’s renowned chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon to the less traditional, such as arneis, alvarinho, and touriga nacional. Tucked away in the southern reaches of Margaret River, the cool climes of Karridale, shadowed by the influence of the Southern Ocean, offer a unique microclimate. Combined with Claudia’s vineyard architecture, this delivers grapes of high natural acidity, providing a suite of options for a natural approach in the winery. Here, the fruits of Claudia and Matt Gant’s labor not only fuel their own ‘Gant & Co’ label but also five other local wineries, Domaine Naturaliste, Howard Park, Flametree, Byron and Harold, and Skigh Wine.

Ashton Hills, Adelaide Hills

Founded in 1982 by Stephen George, Ashton Hills is a beacon of viticultural excellence nestled within the officially recognized Piccadilly Valley subregion of the Adelaide Hills. Under the stewardship of Wirra Wirra Vineyards, with the viticultural expertise of Anton Groffen and vineyard management by Jose Neves, Ashton Hills passionately focuses on a meticulously curated selection of pinot noir clones. This 3-hectare estate, lauded for its high-altitude positioning, crafts wines that embody the essence of the Piccadilly Valley’s cool climate. The offerings, including Ashton Hills Reserve, Ashton Hills Estate, and Ashton Hills Riesling, are distinguished by their precision, elegance, and a vivid expression of terroir. Ashton Hills underscores its significance through a relentless pursuit of clonal perfection, a minimal intervention philosophy, and a deep respect for the unique cool climate conditions of its subregion, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Australian cool climate viticulture.

Barwang Vineyard, Hilltops

In the heart of the Hilltops region, Barwang Vineyard emerges as a testament to innovation and resilience in Australian viticulture. Founded in 1969, the site was purchased in 2021 by the Bowman family, whose farming roots in the area span six generations, and is led today by James Bowman with vineyard manager Scott Douglas. The vineyard grows not only its own esteemed Barwang wines but also plays a pivotal role as a supplier of premium grapes to notable labels including Brokenwood, Hungerford Hill, Lerida Estate, Nick O’Leary, Collector, Eden Road, and more. At a time when the industry sees many moving away from vineyard ownership, the Bowman family’s foray into grape growing exemplifies a bold faith in the future of viticulture, integrating this new challenge into their diversified farming enterprise. Their approach showcases a thoughtful stewardship of a significant 100ha site, underpinned by sustainable practices such as mixed farming, composting, mulching, and native tree regeneration.

Cape Jaffa Vineyard, Mount Benson

Growing on the terra rossa and limestone soils of Mount Benson, with temperatures moderated by the cool salty winds of the Great Southern Ocean, Cape Jaffa Wines has – since its inception in 1993 – been a pioneering beacon for biodynamic practices in the region (officially certified biodynamic since 2005). Led by head grower Hamish Stevenson since 2019, Cape Jaffa Wines continues to innovate and lead in biodynamics for Mount Benson, resulting in ever more characterful grapes and an evolving mix of both classic and experimental wines ‘grown’ from the vineyard. All of this while its commitment to sustainability extends to broader initiatives with a holistic approach to farming.

Castine-Morella Vineyard, Clare Valley

In Clare Valley’s subregion of Watervale, the Castine’s began planting grapevines in 1996 on their property which they had farmed for four generations. 37-hectares of vines are now spread across two distinct blocks on the vineyard, consisting of riesling, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, and grenache. Today, the site is managed by Ben Castine and his wife Jess Smythe-Castine, with a firm focus on land ecology and fruit quality. An impressive lineup of top labels are benefactors of the Castine-Morella Vineyard fruit, such as Wines by KT, Vickery, O’Leary Walker, Tim Gramp, Dorien Estate Winery, Taylors, and Kenny Wines.

Foxey’s Hangout – Scotsworth Farm

In Merricks North, in the heart of Mornington Peninsula, lies Foxey’s Hangout’s Scotsworth Farm vineyard, one of the region’s pioneering biodynamic sites. Planted in 1998 by brothers Michael and Tony Lee, with viticulturist Chris Strickland taking the helm in 2016, this 2-hectare vineyard growing pinot noir and chardonnay has distinguished itself. Scotsworth Farm lays claim to being the first vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula to be biodynamically certified – achieving this status in 2019 after applying for certification in 2017. Today, Foxey’s Scotsworth Farm Chardonnay and Scotsworth Farm Pinot Noir are among the best of the varietal wines coming from the region.

Freeman – Altura Vineyard, Hilltops

Perched at 600 metres in the elevated terrains of Hilltops NSW, the Freeman Altura Vineyard stands as a beacon of grapevine diversity. Spearheaded by the visionary Dr. Brian Freeman, this vineyard encapsulates a pioneering spirit. With plantings ranging from 1975 to the present, the vineyard spans 28 hectares, showcasing 20 varieties at last count, from the classics including chardonnay and shiraz, to Italian stars nebbiolo and sangiovese, to the little known and obscure – aleatico, furmint, harslevelu, rondinella – among others. The Freeman Altura Vineyard is just one of several Freeman vineyards within a 10km radius, with just 1% of the Freeman grape production selected for their own branded products which range from $25 through to $95 per wine. The rest of their grape production is sold to over 15 other winemakers, including Hungerford Hill, Mada, Nick Spencer, Lerida Estate, Charles Sturt, Mercer Wines, Brokenwood, and Ravensworth.

Glenhope Vineyard, Macedon Ranges

At 34-hectares, the Glenhope Vineyard is the largest in the burgeoning Macedon Ranges, a young-ish region with a chillingly cold climate and a small cluster of wine brands developing a cult-like following. Glenhope Vineyard is actually positioned in the most northern area of the region, making it a slightly warmer ‘sub-region’ of the Macedon Ranges comparative to the dress circle of Lancefield, Woodend, Gisborne and Daylesford where most of the chardonnay and pinot noir producers reside. Under the stewardship of Scott Harrington since 2018, and embraced by its new owners James and Marlin Gevergizian in 2021, Glenhope has embarked on a journey to make the vineyard increasingly more sustainable. From its inception in 1995, this vineyard has been dedicated to producing a diverse array of varieties, including chardonnay, riesling, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, merlot, pinot noir, and shiraz. These go into Glenhope’s own label (launched 2023), as well as a list of the who’s who of producers in the area, including: Bindi Wines (Dhillon range), Silent Way, Latta Vino, ECK Wines, Defaily, Ben Ranken, Josh Cooper and more.

467 Twenty Four Road, Margaret River Claudia Gant