Hoddles Creek Estate Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

Franco d’Anna is a largely self-taught winemaker who has a hands-on/hands-off approach to his wines. He’s hands-on in the vineyard, his upper Yarra, steeply sloped Gembrook vineyards prohibit mechanical harvesting and the climate demands extensive canopy management. When it comes to machinery and chemicals, he’s hands-off. After making that decision, the soil health has never been better and he has joined the Langton’s Classification for his 1er Cru Pinot Noir.

Franco also takes a hands-off approach in the winery. No enzymes are added and the gently pressed juice is allowed to settle and ferment naturally. The Estate Chardonnay is left on lees for the bones of a year before blending and cold stabilisation.