2026
pinot gris
king valley
The 2026 King Valley growing season began cool, resulting in slower early growth and a later-than-usual harvest. An unusually late spring frost and a hot, dry summer made for a challenging season and reduced yields across the region. Careful vineyard management ultimately delivered Pinot Gris with ripe fruit character, freshness and generous texture.
GI
King Valley, Victoria
VINEYARD
This Pinot Gris was sourced from Acacia Park Vineyard. Planted on deep red loams in the cool, elevated King Valley, it benefits from alpine breezes, abundant water, and a long, even growing season.
WINEMAKING
Fruit was given a short period of skin contact prior to pressing to gently build colour, flavour and texture. Most of the juice was fermented in French oak barriques and matured on lees to build texture and complexity. A smaller stainless-steel component was cool fermented to retain freshness and vibrant fruit character.
NOSE & PALATE
An attractive and complex nose of ripe pear, white flowers and subtle savoury lees complexity. The palate is generous and textural, with a silky, mouth-coating quality and flavours of ripe pear, mandarin and a hint of honey. Fresh acidity and a gentle phenolic grip bring balance and definition, leading to a long, savoury finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Crispy pork belly, roast chicken or pumpkin ravioli with brown butter and sage.
ANALYSIS
Alc: 14%
pH: 3 .48
TA: 5.88
94 points
HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION
Jeni Port
"Excellent vintage conditions – warm days, cool nights – in the King Valley have produced a well-balanced, silky gris blessed with an almost effortless ease of delivery. Arrives in fresh, lifted scents of honeysuckle, melon, apple, pear and ginger root. Offers a smooth, rolling texture and bright acidity, with flavours running from apple and pear through to some spiced-up, tangy citrus. Earthy ginger and hints of musk stick to close. (2025 Vintage)"
91 points
WINE PILOT
Shanteh Wale
"“This is fragrant with cantaloupe, quince and poached pears. Some ginger ale, pineapple and lemon skin. The King Valley high reaches allow for bright and crunchy acidity, with some middle palate tension and weight from time in seasoned oak. This marries the early picked style with the richness and body of a wine with more presence and hang time. A very cool and worthy wine for the dining table, some pippies or clams in a garlic sauce over pasta would be ideal.”
(2025 Vintage)"
91 points
THE WINE FRONT
Kasia Sobiesiak
"“Good start. Orchard fruit: apples, pears, peaches and a hint of almond or cherry blossom. It’s a style that delivers both freshness and richness. Slippery texture, ginger spice and a bitter-honeyed-medicinal finish. Flavour and layers of interest delivered. Well made.”
(2025 Vintage)"
2026
pinot gris
king valley
