Kooyong & Port Phillip Estate Wines

Mornington Penninsula

The Port Phillip Estate vineyard was established in 1987 and acquired by the Gjergja family in 2000.  Located at Red Hill, the ten hectare site is planted to pinot noir, chardonnay, shiraz and sauvignon blanc, all on northerly and easterly-facing slopes. The Kooyong vineyard and winery established in 1995, was acquired in 2004.

In contrast to the Port Phillip vineyard, Kooyong is located at Tuerong toward the northern end of the Mornington Peninsula. The majority of the forty hectare site is planted to pinot noir, with a moderate area of chardonnay and small parcels of pinot gris.

All of our wines are made to strongly reflect their vineyard site attributes.  Varieties such as chardonnay and particularly pinot noir amplify small differences in site into significant differences in the wine.  The low fertility, sedimentary, light sandy clays of Kooyong support tannic, savoury wines while the deeper, redder and more friable volcanic soils of the cooler and higher Port Phillip Estate vineyard highlight attractive aromatics and lift. Echoing Burgundian tradition, the low yielding vines produce small berries with high flavour and colour intensity. Mornington Peninsula's cool climate and slow ripening suit pinot and chardonnay, although the maritime weather influence means that consistent yields can be challenging to realize.