Wine Region Geelong, Victoria Wine Maker Michael Glover Bannockburn Vineyards was established by Stuart Hooper in 1974. His vision was to create a vineyard which would produce Australian wine of a quality to emulate the great wines of France, in particular the great Burgundies. Stuart Hooper had a purist, uncompromising approach to quality grape growing and winemaking. He had a strong belief in making wines which genuinely reflect the flavours of the vineyard. Although Stuart has since passed away, Bannockburn Vineyards remains in the Hooper family and his philosophy remains as the cornerstone behind all we do at Bannockburn today.   Bannockburn Vineyards is located 25 kms north-west of Geelong, along the Midland Highway, just outside the township of Bannockburn. All Bannockburn wines are produced from estate-grown fruit of 27 hectares of vines. Situated on 3 separate sites, the vineyard soil profile ranges from black brown volcanic loam to dense clay sitting on a limestone base, and are generally of low fertility. The first vineyard was planted in 1974 with subsequent plantings during the early 1980’s, making them among the oldest in the Geelong region. All the established vineyards are dry-grown, this along with poor soil fertility, low rainfall, close-plantings and strong prevailing winds make for a tough growing environment that naturally restricts yields. These are the conditions that make up the terroir from which the unique wine flavours and wine structure are derived.   Since 2005, Michael Glover has been making the wines at Bannockburn with great diligence and passion. "...everything we do is done with thought and care and without compromising on quality." Organic practice, a belief in dry-grown viticulture, vine age and close planting combine with wild ferments, use of whole bunches, extended maceration times, extended lees contact and a fastidious barrel selection process to make wines that are exciting, unique and clearly identifiable as "Bannockburn".   The range of wines include; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, a dry red blend and Saignée (a dry rose style) In addition there are four celebrated single-vineyard wines: S.R.H. - using fruit sourced from our oldest Chardonnay vines at Olive Tree Hill Vineyard. Named in recognition of Bannockburn founder, Stuart Reginald Hooper. Serré - Pinot Noir grown at Serré Vineyard, using close-planting, low trellising and narrow rows to replicate the tough vineyard conditions of Grand Cru Burgundy, naturally yielding at 500g/vine. Range - the original vineyard site planted in 1974, dry-grown vines with natural cropping of 1.0kg/vine to produce a powerful expression of cool climate Shiraz. Stuart - drawing off small batches of the best fruit from our oldest Pinot vineyard, planted in 1978, to produce a stylistically different expression of Pinot Noir.   What the critics have to say! With the qualified exception of the Cabernet Merlot, which can be a little leafy and gamey, Bannockburn produces outstanding wines across the range, all with individuality, style, great complexity and depth of flavour. The low-yielding estate vineyards play their role. Winemaker Michael Glover is determined to enhance the reputation of Bannockburn. 5 Star Winery Rating James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion 2010