Mount Mary Vineyard

The Yarra Valley is located in south-east Australia, east of Melbourne. In the 1850s, Swiss settlers recognised the climatic parallels to Burgundy and Bordeaux and planted the first vines. The Mount Mary vineyard has been here since 1972. Founded by John and Marli Middleton, it was one of the first estates to establish the outstanding reputation of the region to this day.

From the very beginning, John and Marli used French premium wines as a model. And as there were still few high-quality Cabernets in Australia, the goal was clear. The first plantings on the north-facing vineyard took place in 1972 and today Mount Mary has 16 hectares of vines with 18 grape varieties. All the grapes are produced, vinified and bottled on site. The four Mount Mary Estate wines consist of two classic-looking Bordeaux cuvées in red and white as well as two single-varietal "Burgundies" (Pinot and Chardonnay).

Although not certified organic, great importance is attached to ecologically sustainable work, with compost as a natural fertiliser, reduced use of machinery to prevent soil compaction and insect protection for pest control.

Today, the winery is run by David Middleton, the son of the founders, his wife Victoria and their three children Claire, Sam and Hugh. David planted the first vines with his father and later acted as Vineyard Manager. His son Sam is now in charge as head winemaker and carries the francophile heritage of the Australians into the future.

photos: Mount Mary Vineyard