Caledon Estate Chardonnay 2023

The Chardonnay gives a broad spectrum of aromas from citrus blossom through to white peach and honeydew melon. Underpinning primary aromas are subtle cheese souffle notes attributed to the wild ferment and toasty oak. Stone fruits carry through on the palate, kept vibrant with lime and grapefruit acidity.

Matt hails from Western Australia and began his wine career in 1995, picking grapes in Margaret River after completing studies in Engineering. A developing fascination with the process of turning grapes into wine, Matt turned his back on engineering opportunities and began working with Domaine Moss Wood. With consultation provided by Keith Mugford, Moss Wood owner and vigneron, Matt developed and managed the Higher Plane vineyard and assisted in the winemaking of Higher Plane wines from 1998-2005. During this time Matt completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science) through Charles Sturt University.

Following his interests, Matt became a winemaker with Winemaking Tasmania under the supervision of Julian Alcorso in 2007. Working at the contract winemaking facility he was involved in the production of wines from all of Tasmania’s subregions.

By the end of 2013, Matt had taken on the winemaking role at Spring Vale, a highly regarded vineyard and winery on the east coast of Tasmania. With a young family himself, this presented an opportune chance to work with a dedicated, family-owned and run business. After briefly returning to Domaine Moss Wood from 2019-2021, Matt enthusiastically returned to Spring Vale in 2022 and promptly made Caledon’s first vintage, focussed on making wine that respects and reflects the uniqueness of the site and vintage.

In 2019, our vines were planted over 11 hectares, on the slopes of Caledon. Grown on 300 million-year-old dolerite derived soils, the vineyard enjoys a northerly aspect, is frost free (ish) and is spoilt with the fresh waters from the Derwent River thanks to the ingenious Tasmanian Irrigation Scheme. All of the vines at Caledon were sourced from local Tasmanian vineyards including Spring Vale, Craigie Knowe and Boomer Creek. Tasmania and the Coal River Valley is becoming known as one of Australia’s most prestigious cool climate wine regions, so we thought we had better join the party.

Catering to the curious, Caledon grows six grape varietals, offering nine wines – Pinot Noir Reserve, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose and Sparkling (made from our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes). Each block of vines has its own unique characteristics (slope, soil type, temperature variances) and the type of grapes chosen to grow are suited to the terroir of the block. Caledon is a single site vineyard and everything you drink is proudly grown here by us. We take care to produce fruit that reflects the land in which it is planted. Our fruit is carefully sent to the well-respected Spring Vale Vineyard on the Tasmanian East Coast to be made into wine by our good friends, The Lyne Family, who mentored us through establishing the vineyard.