About Us
Open Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon
11am – 5pm
24-26 Medhurst Rd, Gruyere VIC 3770
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Our Story
Medhurst Wines began its journey when the property at 24-26 Medhurst Road in Gruyere was purchased in the late 1990’s by Ross and Robyn Wilson. With the ambition of producing high quality, cool climate wines, the national and international reputation of the Yarra Valley, and its incredible beauty helped form their decision.
The Medhurst Vineyard was chosen for its favourable micro-climate, north-facing slopes, good drainage and magnificent aspect. The site is located on the western side of the Warramate Ranges with an altitude ranging between 130m and 220m above sea level. It was planted in 2000 with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Initially, the wines were made off site. This arrangement continued until the decision was made to build a winery on-site in 2009. The winery was designed by Tim Wilson and Christie Petsinis of Folk Architects, (Tim is Ross and Robyn’s son). It was designed with both function and beauty in mind and includes underground barrel storage with a living roof, and a natural light wall. The Winery blends seamlessly into its hillside setting and is a stunning feature of the property.
The Winery won the Victorian Architectural Award for commercial design in 2012.
From humble beginnings 25 years ago, Medhurst Wines has grown and developed to a point where we are now rated in the top 100 wineries in Australia by the Halliday wine companion.
Over the years the vines have matured, and the wines have evolved into a true Medhurst style.
We are very proud of where our ambition has led us and we look forward to the coming years, the challenges they will undoubtedly bring, and embracing it all with a sense of pride and optimism.
Viticulture and Winemaking
There is a timeless truth that great wines begin in the vineyard. You can’t make exceptional wine without exceptional fruit, and at Medhurst, we are incredibly privileged to cultivate an extraordinary site that brings that philosophy to life. Over the past 25 years, our vineyard has matured and evolved, yielding premium-quality fruit that allows us to craft beautifully expressive, balanced, single-site wines that truly reflect the spirit of Medhurst.
Everything we do in the vineyard is geared towards growing perfect bunches of fruit. The goal is to provide the winemaking team with the best possible opportunity to craft wines that reflect the unique nuance of our site – expressing character, precision and flavour. This requires acute attention to detail, from careful pruning during the winter months, to detailed canopy and crop management during the growing season. Our vineyard crew work tirelessly to ensure that only the most exceptional fruit makes it to the winery!
All the fruit at Medhurst is handpicked and upon arrival in our winery, the meticulous oversight continues. From hand sorting of whole bunches and berries for our red wines to whole bunch pressing for whites and Rosé, every decision in the winery is carefully considered to ensure the highest quality. The result are wines that are brimming with purity, freshness and structure, a true reflection of the site from which they come.
We have had only three winemakers at Medhurst since we built our own winery facility in 2010 – each making their mark on the wines produced through the years. Currently Rohan Smith, who commenced as Chief Winemaker in late 2023, and Kathy McBride, our Assistant Winemaker, work without compromise to craft wines that showcase this exceptional site. Their passion and unwavering attention to detail preserves the style of Medhurst, whilst giving them the freedom to add their own creative touches.
We craft single varietal wines from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a Rosé from our premium Shiraz and Cabernet fruit and a delicious and juicy co-fermented blend of Pinot noir and Shiraz called YRB. Small plantings of Merlot and Malbec, introduced in 2017 now contribute to our Cabernet blending program. With just 12.5 hectares under vine, our production is modest but the passion and care behind each bottle is boundless.
Our People
WINEMAKER
Rohan Smith
Our Chief Winemaker, Rohan Smith, has a strong belief that we are custodians of the land that we farm, to ensure sustainability for now and generations to come.
He has a passion for soil and vines and making wine that is reflective of the site from which it comes.
To him, having perfect fruit from the vineyard is the cornerstone of a producing wines of purity, structure and balance. Following a successful career as a classical musician and in the music industry, Rohan turned his attention to his love for wine, winemaking and working the dirt.
To drive this passion, he relocated to the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, undertaking a Bachelor of Wine Science through Charles Sturt University (graduating as Dux with a University Medal) and has worked for numerous vineyards and wineries across the Peninsula before taking his particular passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay North to join Medhurst in the Yarra Valley.
Rohan judges at numerous capital city and regional wines shows across Australia and is the current Chair of the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards committee. He was also a Len Evans Tutorial scholar in 2024.
ASSISTANT WINEMAKER
Kathy McBride
Our Assistant Winemaker, Kathy, has led a rewarding and varied career on her path to making wine at Medhurst.
After starting out as a gymnastics coach, she discovered the world of wine after a move to luxury food and beverage service and finally event management in five star hotels across the globe.
Her ah-ha wine moment happened after tasting three Chardonnays from three different countries, after which both the meaning and expression of ‘terroir’ was revealed. There was intrigue that somehow, a sense of place had been reflected in the glass. And just like that, she was hooked.
After a decade overseas Kathy made the move back to Australia to undertake a Viticulture and Oenology degree at Curtin University. Feeling the need to catch up after a late start in the industry, she embarked on both southern and northern hemisphere harvests with 7 vintages in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, in addition to her full time winemaking role in the Yarra Valley.
Upon reflection, all of the careers Kathy has chosen have had balance at their core and she brings this ethos to the winemaking process.