Main Ridge Estate

February 2020 – Notes from a Small Vineyard

The 2018 Chardonnay is a story of perseverance and patience.

Ideal weather conditions during flowering presented us with a bountiful crop of Chardonnay, that ripened at an even pace across our three patches of vines. As a result, our window for harvesting was dramatically narrowed, requiring all fruit to be picked and processed over three long consecutive days.

The quality of the grapes pres...

Main Ridge Estate is the story of a successful, family-run boutique wine business.

Nat White is a pioneering Mornington Peninsula wine maker who 44 years ago gave up the security of a public service engineering job for a tiny Red Hill lemon orchard with no road access. Nat and Rose had the dream of creating a Burgundian style vineyard and winery in a location where the climate and suitability of wine varieties was uncertain. With limited capi...

Main Ridge Estate is an ideal site for producing high quality cool climate wine. Located in a small valley at 230 metres altitude on Arthur’s Seat, our small 7 acre vineyard was planted progressively from 1975. It is one of the oldest and highest vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula. The north-east facing vineyards slope gently, sheltered by stands of mature trees.

The 5,000 vines are approximately 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and there ...

In the tradition established by Nat and Rose White, we continue to operate Main Ridge Estate as a small ‘hands -on’ family wine business.

• James makes and sells our wine, and studies his Wine Science degree in his spare time!
• Linda maintains the vineyard and assists James with winemaking.
• Libby is chief accountant, gardener and housekeeper.
• Tim is marketing manager, does spreadsheets, cooks, and fights with the pumps!
• We all work ...