Yarra Yering
Yarra Yering

Yarra Yering

Introduction In 1973 Dr Bailey Carrodus released the first commercial vintage of wine from the Yarra Valley since 1923.The wines reflect this highly individual man, the site he chose so carefully and the vagaries of the seasons in which they are produced. Winemaker Sarah began her wine career in 2001...

Introduction

In 1973 Dr Bailey Carrodus released the first commercial vintage of wine from the Yarra Valley since 1923.The wines reflect this highly individual man, the site he chose so carefully and the vagaries of the seasons in which they are produced.

Winemaker

Sarah began her wine career in 2001 with vineyard work at Broken wood in the Hunter Valley and by2004 Sarah had become Brokenwood’s Assistant Winemaker. Sarah has completed the Future Leaders of the Wine Industry Program as well as the prestigious LenEvans Tutorial Program. Building on these experiences and enjoying the wines of the world withInternational harvests in both Oregon and the Rhone Valley. Sarah went on to be the Senior Wine maker at Bimbadgen from 2010 to 2013 before a job opportunity too good to refuse presented itself and she left the Hunter Valley and headed south to Yarra Yering. Sarah moved to the Yarra Valley joining the team at Yarra Yering in September 2013 as Winemaker and is excited to be focusing on a single iconic vineyard site. The release of her first wines, the 2014 vintage saw her named James Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year 2017. Now in the role of Winemaker and General Manager, Sarah will continue the tradition that Dr Bailey Carrodus started in 1969 with the first vineyard plantings at Yarra Yering. Wine show judging has been an important and enjoyable part of Sarah’s calendar year since her first position as a Trainee Judge at the Hunter Valley Wine Show in 2007. Ten years later she returned asPanel Chair and now takes over as Chair of Judges for 2018. Each year Sarah judges at a number of different shows including regional shows and Capital City Shows.

Vineyard

The 70 acres of vines at Yarra Yering are grown without irrigation on a northerly slope at the foot of the Warramate hills. Good drainage, all day exposure to the sun, and enough elevation from the valley floor to avoid the spring frosts produces wines that are inherently balanced, precise and elegant.

The yield is low, 1-2 tons per acre, resulting in fruit with great intensity and concentration of flavour and with an abundance of natural acidity.

The rows of vines are planted three metres apart, but in-row vine spacings vary across the vineyard, depending on grape variety and suitability to soil type.

Hand-pruning is undertaken over winter by the vineyard staff, regardless of the weather in the Yarra Valley. As the vineyard has grown in size from the original 30 acre block to the current 70 acres, new varieties have been planted to supplement the traditional cabernet, pinot, shiraz, and chardonnay.

A steep west facing hillside purchased in the 90s was terraced and planted with Portuguese varieties to take advantage of the hot afternoon sun. An East facing slope below these varieties is planted to merlot, mouvedre and petit verdot.

Yarra Yering has not stood still, the endeavor to produce better wines is pursued constantly in the winery and vineyard, maintaining its status as one of the best in the Yarra Valley.

Viticulture

In 1973 Dr Bailey Carrodus released the first commercial vintage of wine from the Yarra Valley since 1923.The wines reflect this highly individual man, the site he chose so carefully and the vagaries of the seasons in which they are produced.

 

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