“Heroes” Vineyard is situated on the lands of the Gadubanud and Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation and we pay respects to their Elders past and present. We recognise and honour First Nations peoples and their spiritual connection to Country, community and culture, acknowledging their land stewardship across time and generations.
Vineyard & Sustainability
The “Heroes” vineyard has 10 acres under vine, with Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
The soils are derived from the Tertiary sandstone/siltstone which makes up most of the Otway ranges, with sandy clay loams over highly penetrable clay and weathered sandstone. Roots grow deep into the subsoil and weathered rock material, and the vineyard is unirrigated, with an average annual rainfall of 780mm.
The “Heroes” vines are 100% organically grown, with no synthetic pesticides used and we have a holistic approach to all aspects of farming, particularly focusing on soil life and health. Yields are naturally low, generally around one tonne to the acre, giving us the opportunity to make wines that rival the very best of their type in Australia.
The Anti-Hero vineyards are not organically farmed, but do come from growers who’s growing practices we respect and admire. The Yeowarra Hill Vineyard is now managed by us, and we are working towards it becoming organic.
Winemaking
Perfectly balanced fruit from the vineyard allows us to make wines with minimal intervention, naturally reflecting the site or terroir. Typically, the whites are whole bunch pressed before fermenting naturally with no finings or additions except Sulphur.
Similarly, reds ferment naturally with wild yeast, and generally involve the inclusion of some whole bunches, typically 10-30% depending on the season. They are never fined, and most are bottled without filtration – depending on the season/wine.
(A note on Sulphur… Using Sulphur is vital in ensuring that the wines will last in your cellar, in some instanced for decades. All of our wines contain levels below the organic threshold.)