Bendigo Wine Makers

Blanche Barkly Wines

When young, the reds of ‘Blanche Barkly’ display all the exuberance of a spirited adolescent wine. There is an abundance of vibrant oak, rich fruit characters, furry tannins, beguiling perfume and lingering finish. Many enthusiasts drink them young because of the sheer power and sun-drenched vibrance of the wines.

But store them carefully and patiently in your cellar and you’ll discover what we are on about - vintage wines of great complexity and beauty. At six years old they are worth a look. At ten years old you are looking at something that beggars description. Like the great vintage wines of old, they form crusts in the bottle and must be carefully decantered.

Obsession is the prerequisite for wine growing on the deep, ancient and highly mineralized soils of the central goldfields region. The climate is austere - hot in summer, cold in winter and dry most of the time. But no thing of worth is won easily. And so it is with the deep, complex vintage reds of ‘Blanche Barkly’.

The wine from Kingower is hard won - dry land vineyards must be intensely managed so as the stress on the vines works to deliver depth and quality. The low yields deliver more berries in the bottle and deep, soft tannins.

The goldfields are rich in minerals, particularly iron (the source of the purple hue in great central Victorian reds). Careful attention to sophisticated canopy management, organic style viticultural practices and protection from bird damage make up a busy seasonal routine. ‘Blanche Barkly’ wines are made solely from our Kingower vineyard.

The wines of ‘Blanche Barkly’ are gently made under controlled temperature in rotary fermenters that simulate hand plunging. Maceration style techniques and basket-pressing capture the soft tannins so essential to long-lived vintage wines.

Careful maturation in French and American oak completes the profile. Minimal filtering captures essence of a year’s work. The reds of ‘Blanche’ will throw a crust in the bottle and careful decantering is recommended. And then, ambrosia!

Cellar Door

The cellar door is open most days - a phone appointment is recommended. Bus groups by prior appointment only.

Our stone cellars feature a warming pot bellied stove and historic photographs and artifacts from what was once the richest aluvial goldfield in the world.

From Melbourne, take the Calder Highway to Inglewood and turn off in the centre of town to Kingower. The winery is in the township. The drive takes about two hours from Melbourne.

Contact Blanche Barkly Wines