MERINDOC VINTNERS WINTER 2021 NEWS
1972-2021 : 125 Harvests
Mitchelton/Mitchellstown/Goulburn Valley, Merindoc & Willoughby Bridge/Heathcote & Lusatia Park Vineyard/Yarra Valley
Our family commenced its journey in wine with the first plantings by Colin Preece, Ross and Marigold Shelmerdine at Mitchellstown in August 1969.
Thus heralding the renaissance of the modern Victorian Wine Industry.
In 1969 there were only 20 wine producers in Victoria. Today there are over 820.
The first harvest- for the revolutionary Mitchelton Winery project- of those Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and “White Hermitage” (i.e. Trebbiano) grapes occurred in March 1972.
Vintage 2021 has been our 50th vintage at Mitchellstown, our 25th at Merindoc, and our 23rd harvest at Willoughby Bridge Vineyard.
For completeness, our 27 vintages (1990-2016) at Lusatia Park Vineyard, in the Yarra Valley, are included to reach a grand total of 125 harvests.
Each and every vintage has had its own character and memories, and especially our Heathcote Red wines will reward patience and give pleasure for years to come.
With the highly successful though delayed Vintage 2021 now well behind us, and winter immanent,
With the ongoing impact of COVID-19 over the past 15 months, we have reviewed all aspects of our viticulture, winemaking, wine clubs and cellar door businesses.
As 3rd generation, long-term vineyard people, we will continue to produce premium wine grapes from our Merindoc and Willoughby Bridge Vineyards for our wine- grower friends.
Happily, their artisanal family wine brands are going from strength to strength.
However, we have decided to pause our own wine-making projects and not re-open the Cellar Door and Bistro.
After nearly 60 years conceiving and implementing an ambitious range of agricultural, viticulture and visitor-experience projects, our family has decided to advance its sustainable land management philosophy and focus on the next 50 years.
As such, the Merindoc Springs Shiraz block, regarded as one of the finest single vineyard sites in Victoria, will be embarking on converting to organic certification.
Established in 1997, our Willoughby Bridge Vineyard at Colbinnabin will continue to set the pace for French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese varieties that flourish so well in the Northern part of the Heathcote Region.
Inspired by the younger family members’ vision for Merindoc, the Cellar Door is planned to become an Eco-Tourism and Regenerative Agriculture Education Centre.
More details on these developments will be communicated in due course.
