Jasper Hill is a small family business, founded by Ron and Elva Laughton in 1978. They moved to Heathcote in 1980 with their two young daughters Emily and Georgia to build a new life in the country. Ron with a background in Chemistry and Food Technology along with Elva who had been a Milliner, began with their first vintage in 1982. Now with the business in the hands of their daughter Emily and her husband Nick, operations are continued with enthusiasm, maintaining the high levels of quality set out by their forbears.

Situated in Heathcote, central Victoria, one and a half hours north of Melbourne . Two vineyard sites one kilometre apart, Georgia’s Paddock and Emilys Paddock, were planted in 1975. Subsequent plantings of Shiraz in 1987, Nebbiolo Grenache and Viognier in 1991 completed the vineyards. The Viognier was grafted into Fiano in 2014 while sadly the Grenache was burnt out in 2012 and never replaced. Emily’s Paddock faces east while Georgia’s Paddock faces predominately west, both vineyards are unirrigated and yield small quantities of organic fruit. They sit 300m above sea level and are grown in soil of broken down basalt from the Cambrian era, 650 million years old.

The original block of Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz was planted in 1975, with additional vines planted in 1987. Ten hectares of low yielding Shiraz makes this the largest of our production. Fully destemmed, fermented with natural yeasts and kept on skins for 5-6 weeks before a gentle press and into French oak for 12 month maturation.

Tasting Note

"Vibrant magenta colour typifies this wine as a classic Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz from a great vintage. Always delicious and approachable upon release, backed up by great cellaring ability if you wish. Ripe red raspberry and blackberries, purple plums and very complex spiciness fills the big palate that follows through on to the characteristic, supple yet assertive tannic finish, balanced by impeccable, racy natural acidity. The 15.5% alc/vol. is so well balanced it doesn’t show!" Jasper Hill