Whistling Eagle Vineyard

Victoria | Heathcote

Our Review

This is a remarkable story. Owners Ian and Lynn Rathjen are farmers living and working on the now famous Cambrian red soil of Heathcote. Henning Rathjen was lured from his birthplace in Schleswig Holstein by the gold rush, but soon decided farming provided a more secure future. In 1858 he made his way to the Colbinabbin Range, and exclaimed, ‘We have struck paradise.’ Among other things, he planted a vineyard in the 1860s, expanding it in the wake of demand for the wine. He died in 1912, and the vineyards disappeared before being replanted in ’95, with 40ha of immaculately tended vines. The core wine is shiraz, with intermittent releases of sangiovese, viognier, cabernet sauvignon and semillon. -JAMES HALLIDAY

Specialities

Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Grenache, Malbec, Cabernet Franc

Cellar Door

Information

Small intimate personalised wine tasting experience

Hours

By appt

Details are correct at time of writing

Please check winery website for up to date details

Details

Whistling Eagle logo
Rating
Winemaker Ian Rathjen
Viticulturalist Ian Rathjen
Region Heathcote
Address 2769 Heathcote-Rochester Road, Colbinabbin, Vic 3559
Established 1995
Dozens 950
Vineyards (area) 40 ha
Opening Hours By appt
Telephone (03) 5432 9319
Website www.whistlingeagle.com