{"title":"Wantirna | Yarra Valley","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/0501\/1062\/files\/images_a4e224f2-c47c-4813-a168-dca4a1b0a678.jpg?v=1793498827\" alt=\"\" width=\"460\" height=\"329\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eRomance isn’t dead. Looking at the world right now, you might fear it is. Or lying dormant, at least. But you can be sure, at least once a year, when the Wantirna Estate rolls around, romance wakes up with a jolt.\u003cbr\u003eIf your quest for joy is showing signs of lethargy, just listen to Reg Egan. “Art is the understanding of beauty through the senses, through all the senses,” wrote Reg in his book Of Rivers, Baguettes and Billabongs. “And in order to properly understand the dream of a da Vinci or the inner life of a Bach, one must be capable of adoring the scented and fugitive soul of a passionate wine.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eWantirna Estate knows only passionate wine. “One thing that’s always astonished me is the way people change their lives; the way people go from a highly paid and prestigious job to something that’s utterly without the rewards that the previous job had,” Reg once observed. “This ability to change our lives is admirable, but it’s also something you wonder at.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eWell, yes, I shake my head and wince at what might have been had Reg not chosen to plant a vineyard on the fringe of the Yarra Valley in 1963. Thankfully, he did, at a time when he was still working in the law, and the Yarra had not yet been roused from its own post-World War I slumber. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eHe planted Grenache, Dolcetto, Mataro, Malbec, Crouchon, Pedro Ximénez and Lord knows what else. Eventually that hodgepodge got whittled down to three wines— Chardonnay for Isabella, Pinot Noir for Lily and Cabernet Merlot for Amelia. When Hannah, the fourth and final grandchild, was born, so was a Cabernet Franc\/Merlot. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThese bottles, adorned with their dreamy Leunig labels, are what this vineyard gives. It’s a pure and simple story that has kept those on Wantirna Estate’s mailing list, and sensitive souls in the wine trade, riveted for years. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e“These wines are very much of the place,” says Maryann Egan matter-of-factly. So much has changed since she first toddled around these vines as a girl. “You still never feel like you’re anywhere near any of that,” she says, gesturing toward the world beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eThis is what Wantirna Estate is. While others find it impossible understandably so—to resist the pervading cynicism and pessimism, the romanticism of Reg’s words above still rings true. When spring rolls around and you finally get your hands on the latest Isabella, Lily, Amelia or Hannah, you step back into that idyll of innocence. These beautiful wines carry that spell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eIf anything can break the spell of Mother Nature, it’s Father Time. Alas, the Egans recently announced that the vineyard is for sale. What is in barrel and bottle, and possibly a 2027 harvest, is the last the family will produce. What you have stored in your cellar and sensory memory is infinitely more precious. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eAnd this exceptional release is an even more urgent appeal to wake up and embrace the romance while you can.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"wantirna-isabella-chardonnay-2025","title":"Wantirna Isabella Chardonnay 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e2025 was of our earliest vintages. Isabella is wine of great texture, terrific balancing acidity and quite clearly a wine from this vineyard. A classic Isabella, drinking so well now but with many\u003cbr\u003eyears ahead of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Chardonnay vines are grown on an east-facing, gentle slope, allowing early morning and late afternoon sunshine. This aspect is perfect for growing top-quality Chardonnay grapes. Today, the average age of the vines is over 40 years, which adds to the fruit’s complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Chardonnay grapes are hand-harvested early in the day and pressed in an airbag press. The juice is then chilled, settled and inoculated with yeast before being transferred to a cool underground cellar for fermentation in new, one and two-year-old French oak barrels. The wine is left to age on the yeast lees with regular stirring to increase texture. After around 11 months, the wine is fined and sent to bottle. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a classic Isabella with a textured roundness, lovely balancing acidity and a combination of New and Old World. Drinking beautifully already, but with plenty of ageing potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Wantirna\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CELLARHAND","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49220644012150,"sku":null,"price":112.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/0501\/1062\/files\/Wantirna_Isabella_Chardonnay_2025.jpg?v=1793498265"},{"product_id":"wantirna-lily-pinot-noir-2024","title":"Wantirna Lily Pinot Noir 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe vineyard has three distinct blocks of Pinot Noir, all hand-harvested separately. Despite the vineyard area being only 10 acres in total, the different blocks each deliver unique characters, and often there is up to two weeks’ difference in the harvest dates. The mature block — with vines dating back to the early 1970s —gives the wine its savoury tones and fine tannins. The Front block fruit is spicy, while the Fruit Tree block is generously fruity. Each component adds complexity when blended together, creating the Pinot Noir style for which Wantirna Estate is known. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have been watching the wine evolve since it was bottled 20 months ago, and we love how it's developed. It has really delicious fruitiness teamed with textural density and power right now. The wine will continue to age beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Wantirna\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CELLARHAND","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49220644044918,"sku":null,"price":112.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/0501\/1062\/files\/Wantirna_Lily_Pinot_Noir_2024.jpg?v=1793498254"},{"product_id":"wantirna-amelia-caberneet-merlot-2024","title":"Wantirna Amelia Cabernet Merlot 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eA large proportion of the grapes for this wine come from the original 1963 plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines. The remainder is from the more recently planted—1989—Petit Verdot. Whilst the proportions differ every year, depending on fruit set and cropping levels, roughly speaking, the breakdown is as follows: 65% Cabernet sauvignon, 30% Cabernet franc and Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The addition of Petit Verdot grapes in the 1990s gave the wine a backbone of tannin and natural acidity. With its long growing season, Petit Verdot grapes are the last to be harvested, usually in mid-April.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year’s blend is a classic from this label. The wonderful 2024 season shines through, showcasing the year’s incredible flavour concentration. A wonderful, complex mix of all the berries, generous weight and those lovely long tannins that we get from the grapes of the 60-year-old vines. 2024 produced smaller quantities than usual for this wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Wantirna\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CELLARHAND","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49220644438134,"sku":null,"price":112.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/0501\/1062\/files\/Wantirna_Amelia_Cabernet_Merlot_2024.jpg?v=1793498244"},{"product_id":"wantirna-3-pack-collection","title":"Wantirna 3 Pack Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis collection contains: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 x 25' Wantirna Isabella Chardonnay\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 x 24' Wantirna Lily Pinot Noir\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 x 24' Wantirna Amelia Cabernet Merlot\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWantirna Isabella Chardonnay\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2025 was of our earliest vintages. Isabella is wine of great texture, terrific balancing acidity and quite clearly a wine from this vineyard. A classic Isabella, drinking so well now but with many\u003cbr\u003eyears ahead of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Chardonnay vines are grown on an east-facing, gentle slope, allowing early morning and late afternoon sunshine. This aspect is perfect for growing top-quality Chardonnay grapes. Today, the average age of the vines is over 40 years, which adds to the fruit’s complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Chardonnay grapes are hand-harvested early in the day and pressed in an airbag press. The juice is then chilled, settled and inoculated with yeast before being transferred to a cool underground cellar for fermentation in new, one and two-year-old French oak barrels. The wine is left to age on the yeast lees with regular stirring to increase texture. After around 11 months, the wine is fined and sent to bottle. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a classic Isabella with a textured roundness, lovely balancing acidity and a combination of New and Old World. Drinking beautifully already, but with plenty of ageing potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWantirna Lily Pinot Noir\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vineyard has three distinct blocks of Pinot Noir, all hand-harvested separately. Despite the vineyard area being only 10 acres in total, the different blocks each deliver unique characters, and often there is up to two weeks’ difference in the harvest dates. The mature block — with vines dating back to the early 1970s —gives the wine its savoury tones and fine tannins. The Front block fruit is spicy, while the Fruit Tree block is generously fruity. Each component adds complexity when blended together, creating the Pinot Noir style for which Wantirna Estate is known. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have been watching the wine evolve since it was bottled 20 months ago, and we love how it's developed. It has really delicious fruitiness teamed with textural density and power right now. The wine will continue to age beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWantirna Amelia Cabernet Merlot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA large proportion of the grapes for this wine come from the original 1963 plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines. The remainder is from the more recently planted—1989—Petit Verdot. Whilst the proportions differ every year, depending on fruit set and cropping levels, roughly speaking, the breakdown is as follows: 65% Cabernet sauvignon, 30% Cabernet franc and Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The addition of Petit Verdot grapes in the 1990s gave the wine a backbone of tannin and natural acidity. With its long growing season, Petit Verdot grapes are the last to be harvested, usually in mid-April.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year’s blend is a classic from this label. The wonderful 2024 season shines through, showcasing the year’s incredible flavour concentration. A wonderful, complex mix of all the berries, generous weight and those lovely long tannins that we get from the grapes of the 60-year-old vines. 2024 produced smaller quantities than usual for this wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hunters Hill Wine Room","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49220669898870,"sku":null,"price":305.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/0501\/1062\/files\/Wantirna_3_Pack_Collection.jpg?v=1793498195"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/0501\/1062\/collections\/wevineyard-body.jpg?v=1793498876","url":"https:\/\/huntershillwineroom.com.au\/collections\/wantirna-yarra-valley.oembed","provider":"Hunters Hill Wine Room","version":"1.0","type":"link"}