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HISTORY
TarraWarra Estate is a 400-hectare property on a prime site at the warm eastern end of the Yarra Valley in Southern Victoria. This idyllic location affords breathtaking views and the Estate is considered one of the Yarra Valley¡¯s and Victoria¡¯s premier attractions. The name TarraWarra is from the traditional aboriginal owners of the land, the Wurrundjeri, and refers to ¡®slow waters’, describing the arc in the Yarra River where the winery is situated.
In 1983, the Estate expanded to become a vineyard embodying the vision of Marc and Eva Besen to produce premium wines of great quality and integrity amidst a location of beauty and welcome. Visitors to TarraWarra Estate can enjoy beautifully-matched food and wine in the stylish WineBar or view the extensive collection of modern Australian art housed in the TarraWarra Museum of Art.
THE REGION
With a rich history stretching back to Australia's first settlers, the Yarra Valley is not only one of Australia's oldest wine producing regions, but also one of the most successful and diverse. The Yarra Valley lies at the foot of the striking Dandenong Ranges and is less than an hour's drive east of Melbourne in Victoria.
The Yarra Valley is known for its undulating hills, good fertile soil and overall cool temperate climate. It lies at 37° South. The big range of altitudes makes for a wide variation in climate. The TarraWarra vineyard is planted on a warmer north facing slope at the eastern end of the Valley at approximately 100 meters elevation, and comprises 12 hectares of Chardonnay and 17 hectares of Pinot Noir, most of which was planted in 1983 and 1984.
WINE AND WINEMAKING
TarraWarra Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are premium wines crafted to bring out the particular aspects of each vintage while consistently concentrating on balancing structure and elegance. These wines are of great character and depth, reflecting the outstanding quality of the 100% estate grown fruit from the unique microclimate of the site chosen specifically for these varieties.
There are 23 different blocks at TarraWarra Estate, most less than one hectare in size. The majority of the Pinot Noir was planted in 1984, with additional plantings made up until 1995. As most of the vines are at least 20 years old, the fruit is consistently more concentrated and of a good acid balance with low yields. This vine age contributes noticeably to the wines giving them more structure and great balance.
The TarraWarra Tin Cows wines are made from fruit grown at the Estate & other vineyards in the Yarra Valley, with the Shiraz having an additional dimension from fruit grown at Heathcote in central Victoria. These wines over-deliver in quality reflecting the serious TarraWarra edge combined with exciting packaging & value. The range includes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir & Shiraz.
Clare Halloran is the winemaker at TarraWarra Estate. Clare is a mother of three and also an acclaimed baker. At the Royal Melbourne Show, Clare wins prizes for her sponge cakes alongside her world-class wines.
Since the first vintage in 1986, TarraWarra Estate has won widespread acclaim in Australia and overseas. The TarraWarra Estate Pinot Noir has twice been awarded the Trophy for the World's best Pinot Noir/Burgundy at the prestigious London International Wine Challenge.
The TarraWarra Wines Available in the United States are:
