Winemaker Notes
Handpicked is a contemporary and dynamic Australian wine company with a unique business model. Unlike most wineries, we do not limit ourselves to one region or style. Instead we aim to lead wine lovers on a journey through the world’s fine wine regions.
The Handpicked story grew from the simple, yet bold desire to bring the world of wine under one label. We 'handpick' the wine regions and grape varieties from around Australia and beyond to craft a global portfolio of wines which all reflect a supreme sense of place.
Handpicked is made up of a team of experienced winemakers, viticulturalists and wine lovers. Making wines across the world means our winemakers are constantly busy travelling to ensure we produce the highest quality wines from each and every region.
We achieve this diverse portfolio through our vineyards in Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Margaret River and Barossa Valley and through established partnerships with vignerons in other regions. Our two winemakers work closely with local producers to ensure our wines reflect the quality and regional character we are looking for.
As the most important area of wine production in Victoria today, the Yarra Valley is most popular for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which account for over half of vineyard acreage. A gentle, rolling and rural region alongside the Margaret River, the Yarra Valley has a cool maritime climate with a lengthy growing season, perfect for these cool-climate varieties.
Two styles of Pinot Noir are possible here. The warmer Lower Yarra Valley with sandy, loam soils, produces plush and fruity Pinot Noir while the cooler, higher-elevation Upper Yarra Valley with soils of young red basalt, produces more angular and mineral-driven Pinot Noir.
Yarra Valley Chardonnay is among the best in Australia. To preserve the floral aromatics and fresh citrus flavors for which this area’s Chardonnay is so appreciated, time in barrel is restrained (though barrel fermentation is common). The best Yarra Valley Chardonnays display brilliant acidity, leesy characteristics, citrus, stone fruit and flavors of ginger and spice.
Shiraz and Cabernet find success in parts of this region as well.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”