Stonier

The Mornington Peninsula is one of Australia's most exciting young regions and Brian Stonier has been there pretty much since the start, having planted his first vines in 1978. Since then Stonier has become synonymous with quality Mornington Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 2008 sadly saw the departure of winemaker Geraldine McFaul who did so much to establish an almost Burgundian philosophy of refinement and elegance - spending the glorious 2002 vintage at Domaine de l'Arlot in the Cote de Nuits must have been a bit of an eye-opener for her!

But onwards and upwards for this two grape specialist with the appointment of Mike Symons as the new chief winemaker. By vinifying all parcels separately they are able to blend the components to produce genuine wines which reflect the terroir as well keeping their drinking audience happy. Coming from the cool climate of Mornington, Stonier is also perfectly placed to benefit as consumer tastes away move away from big, jammy Aussie fruit bombs and towards lighter, elegant, more refreshing wines like these.

Stonier sources both grapes from over 150 acres across 5 selected sub-regions; Merricks North, Balnarring, Tuerong, Red Hill and at the estate vineyards in Merricks which span over 50 acres. Due to the cool climate of these sub-regions, North and North-East facing sites are favoured as they are protected from the prevailing sea winds whilst retaining maximum exposure to the sun. In Merricks, vineyard design and low density planting contribute to an average yield of under 3 tonnes per acre, boosting concentration. If you haven't discovered the quality of well-priced Mornington Pinot Noir and Chardonnay then just take a right out of Melbourne and you're nearly there.