On high ground at the southern edge of the Great Divide sits the cathedral-ceilinged cellar door of Sutherland Estate.
The boutique, family-owned winery at Dixon’s Creek incudes about 10 acres planted with various wine grape varieties – chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, gewürztraminer and tempranillo.
Most of the vineyard is on a free-draining slope that falls toward the south which, together with the 200 metre elevation, accentuates the vineyard’s cool nature.
The site’s climate produces a longer than usual ripening season, which is reflected in the wines.
How long have you been in the industry?
We’ve been making wine for 18 years. I’ve personally been enjoying wine for many years. Fortunately, my previous career allowed me to travel and by visiting wine regions around the world I caught the bug!
How did you get involved with Sutherland?
We started Sutherland Estate virtually from scratch.
We spent some time looking for the sort of property that was capable of growing high-quality wine grapes and was also a beautiful place that would be rewarding to work on and have people visit.
We looked in several regions but it was always going to be in the gorgeous Yarra Valley.
We were lucky to find a spectacular property that had a small but established vineyard and huge potential.
Tell us about the wines produced at Sutherland – what sets you apart?
We use only estate-grown grapes, which means that we are the custodians of the fruit from budburst to harvesting.
Our wines are true to their varietals – no blending – which means they amount to a true expression of both the variety and our special piece of dirt.
We especially enjoy working with our rarer-known varieties of gewurztraminer and tempranillo.
Which one’s your personal favourite and why?
Tempranillo. It appears to thrive on the site and produces an intriguing wine of savoury, dark fruits and lingering tannins.
As part of our constant exploring, we have produced a sparkling tempranillo which has proved to be a crowd favourite.
The Sutherland Estate building is striking – what’s its story?
My Dad was given free rein with the design.
Given the views it was always going to have enormous windows.
We wanted something individualistic, dramatic and beautiful. He nailed it!
How important is it for Yarra Valley wineries to do more than just produce wine?
It would be possible to produce wine in a sterile, soulless factory, but visitors are going to learn more and have a greater appreciation of both the wine making process and the finished wines themselves if they can stand on the dirt where the grapes are grown and talk to the people who actually make the wine.
It will be a far more satisfying and rounded experience for them.
We let out one of our romantic towers, which gives visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the most beautiful of rural settings.
What makes for a memorable Yarra Valley dining experience?
Sympathetically paired food and wine, coupled with the right setting.
We offer cheese platters and our front deck!
You’ve invited friends for a picnic lunch in a Yarra Ranges park. Which wine do you take along?
A bottle of our 2012 sparkling pinot noir chardonnay – a labour of love from our side which never fails to deliver pleasure. That is, after all, what wine is all about.
