Our wines
BRUNY ISLAND PREMIUM WINES
Our family run vineyard is set on a gently sloping site with a sunny northerly aspect. Our vineyard produces premium quality, cool climate wines; grown, harvested and crafted to reflect the regions terroir, our wines have won over 40 medals in national and international wine shows. Bernice has been making the wine on-site since 2004.
Our family first approach also extends to other elements of the business. Bernice’s mother Ruth Dillon, contributed the oil paintings for the labels, while the graphic design is the work of Bernice’s cousin Kylie Berry. Other family members are working in the vineyard, restaurant and cellar door.
Mid to late April all grapes are hand-picked on an annual picking day which attracts around 100 pickers in a day of vintage celebrations. All wines are made on site and include such varieties as Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
White Wine making:
We hand pick everything, pressing immediately to preserve the fruits freshness and then a slow fermentation is conducted to preserve each varieties aromatics. All our whites show the advantages of successful cool climate grape growing, often against the elements! Delicate yet powerful aromatics and that delicious balancing strand of natural fruit acidity; Zingy, slight mineral under tone, but finishing clean and soft. Perfect food wines.
All of our cool-climate white wines are hand crafted on site by owner Bernice. Our wines are only available through the cellar door.
RD SPARKLING ROSE
This wine has been named after the sparkling personality of Ruth Dillon, my Mum who painted all the Bruny Island paintings which are used on our labels for our wines. There is nothing like hearing the sound of a cork popping. A blend of Chardonnay 60%, Pinot Noir 40 % made in a Traditional Method to achieve elegance and finesse. A lovely rose gold colour, zingy, bright and zesty, strawberries and cream, meringue notes finished with great balance and length whilst hitting all corners of the palate.
SAUVIGNON BLANC
“Spring in a Glass” we call this wine, a classic Sauvignon Blanc, grassy/herbacious and tropical aromas. On the palate kiwi fruit, citrus, honey dew melon and hints of passionfruit. A well balanced wine with a soft lime zest crisp and dry finish. Perfect with natural oysters, oysters kilpatrick, any seafood, or just sit back and enjoy one of our platters with a glass of this great wine.
UNWOODED CHARDONNAY
Simply delicious wine! Aromatics mellowing from flash, brash youth into a perfumed nose with hints of lemon/lime, granny smith apple & honeysuckle. This Chablis style wine offers a satisfying mouth feel on the palate & texture with the most mouthwatering, long- lasting Nashi pear and honeydew melon balancing the soft & clean citrusy finish to perfection.
Pair with our fish special or tasting platter.
CHARDONNAY
A delicate aroma of freshly baked brioche, Leatherwood honey & sweet spices. Fine tight citrus acidity with a voluptuous palate of tropical fruits and pink grapefruit. A mild creaminess gives the wine length and poise, the perfect complement to our fish of the day, seafood chowder, tasting platter or cheese platter.
PINOT NOIR ROSE
Our second Rosé has landed and what an outstanding wine. Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. Gorgeous aromas of peach, nectarine, red berries and lifted with some floral notes. Lovely and rounded on the palate with flavours of strawberries, raspberries and cream, watermelon and poised with great balance and length on the palate. What a great summer wine!
Riesling
Crisp and zesty, this Riesling showcases vibrant citrus aromas layered with subtle mineral nuances. The palate is bright and refreshing, revealing flavours of green apple, fresh lime and lemon zest. Lively acidity provides excellent balance and drive, leading to a long, clean and dry finish.
Red Wine making:
As our vineyard has matured and our relationship and knowledge of our vines has grown with each vintage, we have settled on a distinct house style of wine making. Hand picking, is followed by immediate crushing and destemming into small bins. We allow a long cold soak until a wild ferment has started, at which point we then inoculate with a Pinot Noir yeast to ensure we carry the ferment through to finish, given the difficult seasonal conditions in this farthest south vineyard. After pressing, each wine goes through a prolonged malo lactic secondary fermentation in winter finishing with the warmer Spring conditions. Typically, there is 9 months in French oak with approx 15% new oak and the rest 1-4 years old, giving a lovely balance and texture of new oak aromatics and spice and the gentler older oak tannins. All of our red wines are hand crafted on site by owner Bernice.
Pinot Noir 2024
Bright ruby red colour, spicy aroma, toffee and vanilla. On the palate delicate fruit driven style, mixed berries overlaying some cherry, blackcurrant, caramel, vanilla and a finely balanced layer of tannin. The oak and fruit combining well together to give this wine depth, length and finish. A great lunchtime wine, match with our Island tasting platter, or just enjoy with your favourite vegetarian or pasta dish.
Reserve Pinot Noir
Oh.. growing Pinot Noir is so much fun! Different vintages can dish out such diverse styles when taking into consideration the terroir of our vineyard. Deep rich ruby red, quite savoury on the bouquet, mushroom, deep plum and hints of chocolate. On the palate straight up blackcurrant, cherry pith, vanilla, hints of allspice, chocolate, soft ripe berry flavours, black pepper, all coming together in an elegant well-balanced style. Matured in French oak for 9 months. This quite full-bodied Pinot Noir will reward those who choose to cellar. Match this wine with our Island tasting platter, salmon, lamb and the list goes on and on.
MOUNT BOUNTY PINOT NOIR
This wine’s journey begins with handpicked fruit sourced from Mt Bounty Vineyard in Alonnah, Bruny Island, just five kilometres up the road – a historic property once owned by Bernice’s great-grandfather. Today, the Davie family nurtures their 1.25-hectare vineyard which they established in 2018. Planting Clone 777 in combination with their terroir creates a wine with intense aromas of blackberries, blackcurrant, cherries and plum. Fruit driven mid-palate with hints of spice and finely balanced silky smooth tannins on the finish. Pair with our Steak of the day, lamb, wallaby, platters etc etc….