OUR WINES

Since inception, Yarra Yarra has been dedicated to making small quantities of serious dry red and white wines in the same style as the great Chateaux of Bordeaux and more recently the top estates of the Northern Rh™ne.

The Artisan
Ian Maclean has been Yarra YarraÕs only winemaker since the first vintage in 1983. Although he does not have any formal winemaking qualification, he has a Bachelors degree in Applied Science and an MBA, both from Melbourne University. He believes that, in winemaking, art is more important than science, and Ian is fortunate to have a Ôpalate that worksÕ!! He wants to make wines which have intense flavour, complex palates and finesse and be instantly recognisable as Yarra Yarra.

His winemaking philosophy is Òlet the grapes talk and treat them gently and with respectÓ. He interferes as little as possible in the winemaking process, barely crushing the berries, using natural yeasts, transferring the wines by gravity rather than pumping and adding minimal amounts of sulphur dioxide. The winery is kept at constant 15 degrees C and there is a state of the art bottling machine, thus controlling the complete wine making process.

Production is tiny with around 1500 to 2000 cases produced annually.

IanÕs dedication and focus are exemplified by working the 1994 and 2000 vintages at Domaine de Chevalier, one of BordeauxÕs finest properties.

It is probably best to read what others say about Ian to gain an objective view of his skills as a winemaker.

ÒAlthough Ian Maclean did little or nothing to gain publicity, word got around that the wines were of exceptional qualityÓ. James Halliday, Classic Wines of Australia and New Zealand

ÒAmongst the very finest makers of Australian Cabernet blends and Sauvignon Blanc SŽmillonÓ. Jeremy OliverÕs Onwine Report

ÒIan Maclean is meticulous in his compact hill-top winery and scrupulous about hygiene. The attention to detail is impressive but Maclean is far from a boring old technocrat Ð he is moving towards more and more wild yeast fermentation and he has an impish sense of humourÓ.
Max Allen, Divine Magazine

ÒYou know how to make wineÓ. Michael Broadbent, MW, Former Head of ChristieÕs Wine, London

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