'to embrace the honesty of the Australian terroir – the rocks, the soils, and the rhythm of the seasons – which impart their own identity into the wines'

For three generations the Shelmerdine family has been at the forefront of the Victorian wine industry, first establishing the Merindoc farming property in the Heathcote region in 1954. In 1967 Ross Shelmerdine, a passionate wine enthusiast collaborated with Colin Preece to uncover the most expressive winegrowing regions in south eastern Australia. In 1970 Ross and Marigold Shelmerdine founded the Mitchelton vineyard/winery in the Nagambie Lakes region. Twenty years later Ross and Marigold's son Stephen Shelmerdine adopted their love and passion for viticulture. Stephen aspired to grow grape varieties in appropriate climates that most express the identity of the region through the wine. From 1985 Stephen planted vineyards in Heathcote at the Merindoc property and Colbinabbin, and also established the renowned Lusatia Park Vineyard of the Yarra Valley. In 2001 Mitchelton Estate was sold to Lion Nathan. The Shelmerdine family shifted their focus to producing small volume, high quality wines and launched the Shelmerdine Wine series in 2002. To this day Stephen’s vision for his wines is to embrace the honesty of the Australian terroir – the rocks, the soils, and the rhythm of the seasons – which impart their own identity into the wines. His wines showcase the best varieties most suited to the Heathcote region – Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Viognier – and from the Yarra Valley – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.