 |
 |
|
| Glenrowan is a place of great natural endowments, it grows the finest fruit and hosted a famous gold rush. Glenrowan has remained quarantined from any exchange of viticulture since the 1890s, a felicitious quirk of history which has preserved the provenance of some great old vineyards. Baileys Glenrowan» |
|
| The inaugural release of Hanging Rock Shiraz was vintage 1987 and what an event it was, immediately claiming gold and inspiring comparisons to Grange by the industry press. From from fruit grown to the estate Athols Paddock, a complex Heathcote style, more Syrah than Shiraz, boasting several trophies and over fifty gold to its distinguished history, big, powerful and rich, yet exhibiting an elegance and finesse that's rare in Australian wine. Hanging Rock» |
|
| Widely regarded as one of New Zealand's leading winemakers, Alan McCorkindale has over three decades experience at crafting some of the South Island's most memorable vintages. McCorkindale's efforts have claimed many trophy and gold at prestigious competitions including twice International White Wine of Year at the distinguished London International Wine Challenge. Munamuna» |
|
| Amherst is a town rich with colourful history and local folklore, site of the first official gold find in 1851, it launched a mining rush which expanded throughout central Victoria. The district's long association with viticulture is also prolific and colourful. Amherst» |
|
| An exciting innovation in a Methode traditionnelle, enriched by strawberry. A component of Pinot Noir is treated to extended time on skins for perfect uptake of charming rose colour, to be blended back with Chardonnay after primary ferments. Lindauer» |
|
| This enduring flagship wine can boast twenty trophys and over seventy gold medals throughout its illustrious history. Penley Steyning captures and enhances the excellence in first growth Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, highlighted by rich berry tones, superior length and layers of intense flavour, a wine which achieves perfect harmony between massive intensity of fruit, mouth filling grape tannins and elegant acids. Penley Estate» |
|
| Stephen Pannell is one of Australia's most decorated winemakers, Jimmy Watson and twice Max Schubert Trophy winner, London International Winemaker of Year and Chairman National Wine Show. He found time in between tours of duty at Wirra Wirra, Tintara and BRL Hardy, to do vintage in Burgundy, at the illustrious Mouton Rothschild and amongst the grand old vines of Barolo. SC Pannell» |
|
| In commemoration of the year Samual McWilliams planted his first vines, 1877 is a national flagship, crafted from the best fruit of vintage. The choicest parcels of estate grown Shiraz are sourced from superior mature vines on the original McWilliams plantings at Barwang among the Hilltops. McWilliams» |
|
| From one of the oldest productive blocks of Marsanne in the world, an opulent white wine of remarkable complexity. The pick of fruit from this very special patch of ancient vines is crafted into a wine that's built to age beautifully in bottle, initially brooding and water white, evolving luxurious caramelled characters while unravelling layers of flavour. Tahbilk» |
|
| Since inaugural release, Howard Park Chardonnay has wowed wine judges and reviewers internationally. It was awarded Best White Trophy at the Tri-National Wine Challenge, Gold Medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and Blue Gold at the Sydney International, two years in a row. Howard Park» |
|
| Whole bunches and oak barrel ferments, the costly extravagance of three years tirage on sedimentery yeast lees, each bottle individually riddled by hand, disgorged and sent to cellar for the ultimate indulgence of extra age before release, Pamela is the zenith of the sparkling winemaker's art. Her luxurious effervescence exudes brioche, tarte tatin and French boulangere, her creamy textural mousse unravelling ribbons of rich yeasty autolysis, crème caramel and baked fruits. Wicks» |
|
| Characterized by its controlled power, elegance and finesse, a very special Pyrenees wine which redefines the great Cabernet virtues of stature, structure and length. The inaugural release claimed Gold and Best Wine ahead of two timeless Bordeaux icons, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Cos d'Estournel. Taltarni» |
|
 |
|
|
|
About Hanging Rock - the Winery
Hanging Rock
All his time spent working as a drink waiter and cellar manager while failing veterinary science, must have made an impression on John Ellis
Ellis graduated as Dux of his winemaking course from Roseworthy College in 1971 and began his illustrious winemaking career at Krondorf and Yalumba wineries. In 1974 John went to the Hunter Valley to become the foundation winemaker at the newly established Rosemount Estate. Within two years John had put Rosemount Estate on the map internationally and made a name for himself as one of the young Turks of the industry. The next move came in 1978 when John, with his wife Ann Tyrrell, went to Echuca on the Murray River in Victoria, to help establish the Tisdall Winery. Tisdall quickly became a high profile and successful brand in the seventies and early eighties, enjoying something of a cult following.
Whilst finding the time at Tisdall immensely rewarding, John and wife Ann had for some time cherished the ambition to make a world-class sparkling wine, in the style of famous Champagne houses Bollinger and Krug. To do this John and Ann chose, in 1982, to establish their own winery at Hanging Rock in the very cool (ideal for sparkling wine grapes) Macedon Ranges Wine Region of Victoria. In 1985 and 1986, while establishing the new winery, John served as Executive Officer of the Victorian Wine Industry Association and then served as a VWIA committee member with early responsibility for developing Victoria’s Geographic Indicators program to define and register new and existing wine regions.
In the face of some criticism from their peers – accusations of copycats and not striving to produce a definitive Australian sparkler, the Ellises triumphed. The fact that a premium sparkling was not going to sustain them in the short term, meant that other wines were needed to fill out the portfolio. This lead to Jim Jim Sauvignon Blanc, which quickly gained a reputation as one of Australia’s best. So, now the portfolio had two premium whites and what it needed was a premium red to balance things out. Enter, Heathcote Shiraz.
John and Ann flirted with the idea of the Mt Camel Range as a sensational place to plant Shiraz. John Ellis was already making Mt Ida Shiraz for Leonard French and Dr Jim Munro. At that time, in the 1980s, there was little suitable land for sale in the Heathcote region. However there was an established vineyard available for lease, located on the southern slopes of Mt. Camel to the north of the Heathcote township. The opportunity to take on an established vineyard, and a good one at that, was too good to pass up.
The first ever Hanging Rock Heathcote Shiraz was the 1987 vintage, released in late 1988. And what a vintage it was, immediately claiming Gold Medals and compared with the current release Grange Hermitage by the Wine Press. And so the legend was born. Every subsequent vintage through to 1992 produced more great wine and added to the swag of awards. Hanging Rock Heathcote was now well established as a top Australian Shiraz and something of a cult wine.
Ann Ellis often says that she is very glad that her husband never worked for her father. Ann has two creative and determined men of the wine industry in her life, she is Murray Tyrrell's daughter. She was not only born into this business, the fourth generation in this famous winemaking family, but has worked in it all of her life. Ann has worked as personal assistant to Don Ditter of Penfolds. Penfolds also sent her to Adelaide for a time where she worked with Max Schubert and John Davoren. At the time when the whole Australian wine industry was shaking itself into new life and vigour, she was Cellar Manager at Bulletin Place for a chap called Len Evans. Today, as ever, John Ellis continues to work vigorously for the development of Wine and Food Tourism in Victoria. He is currently Chairman of Tourism Macedon Ranges and in March 2005 was invested as a Legend of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. In 2007 John received the Tourism Victoria Award for the Most Outstanding Contribution by an Individual.
In 2007 John received the French Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry's French Flair Award. This award honours those Australian individuals, organisations or companies who have made an outstanding contribution to the fostering of French- Australian relations through his work with numerous young French winemakers. John is currently a Board Member of the Winemakers Federation of Australia and Chairman of the WFA's Small Winery Membership Committee representing the interests of small wineries. In addition to being a senior judge on the wine show circuit for many years, John is currently Chairman of the Royal Hobart Wine Show and a Show Judge at both the Rutherglen and Perth Wine Shows.
|
|
