Winemaker Notes
Alon and Jodi Arbel own and operate the 25-acre vineyard in Swan Valley, Western Australia. Alon is originally from Israel and came to Western Australia in search of a strong easterly sea breeze as a keen windsurfer back in the early 1990s. Jodi had original qualifications in physical education, health promotion and public health before turning to the world of wine.
Following a stint working overseas, Alon and Jodi returned and settled in Perth in 1993. It was only at this time that Alon was introduced to the world of wine, thanks to some of Jodi’s wine admiring relatives! in 2003, the Arbel’s purchased the land that is now Bella Ridge. Bella Ridge is proud to be pushing the boundaries, producing handcrafted blends and styles that are flavorsome, innovative and distinctive.
Bella Ridge Estate grapes are hand-picked, crushed, processed and bottled on-site at their in-house winery. The approach is to produce interesting and unique styles and blends that are textural, complex and flavorsome, with many dimensions, layers and lots of character.
Quite remote and unequalled in beauty, the wine regions of Westerm Australia promise endless physical and climatic diversity. From the coolest, seaside vineyards to the hottest inland zones, Western Australia is the source of some of the country’s most sought after wines.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.