Bendigo

Sutton Grange

Star Cellar Door

Wine industry observers have been waiting to see what new senior winemaker Melanie Chester will bring to her role at Sutton Grange. The former Seppelt winemaker took over from Frenchman Gilles Lapalus in 2015, inheriting an organic/biodynamic vineyard and a distinctly personal winemaking style.

We will start to see the effect of her individual imprint come the release of the 2016 vintage wines. If her investment in the winery, namely in new oak, is anything to go by, expectations are high. In the vineyard, Chester has increased plantings of Mediterranean-climate varietal specialists: aglianico, fiano and sangiovese. She sees grapes such as these as possibly being more suited to Bendigo’s climate than classic French varieties.

Chester is a force to be reckoned with, a most talented winemaker and wine judge, with a strong feel for the marketplace. She deserves our utmost attention in her endeavours at Sutton Grange.

The large property started life devoted to thoroughbred racing, vines arriving later in 1998. Wine drinkers should look to the winery’s two labels: Fairbank, offering excellent value for money, and Estate, which celebrates the individual. The syrah (shiraz) probably enjoys the highest esteem with wine drinkers everywhere, with good reason.

Open Sunday only, for the Sunday Afternoon Wine Down, featuring wine tastings, platters of regional food and live music – the added extras that also make this the cellar door with the Best Additional Experience in the Bendigo region in 2017. JENI PORT

OUTSTANDING WINE: 2015 Sutton Grange Fairbank Syrah, A$25