Moranghurk Vineyard

Ross and Liz Wilkie have established a tiny vineyard on the historic Moranghurk property, which was first settled in 1840. They have planted 0.6ha of clonally selected pinot noir and 0.4ha of chardonnay on volcanic soil overlying shale and clay. The vineyard is mulched, and is in the course of being converted to organic, with yields of less than 5 tonnes per ha. Drought and bushfire has reduced production dramatically in recent years, but with the hope of better things to come. -JAMES HALLIDAY