What a lot of people don’t realise about the Peninsula is that it’s very sub-regional. The difference between the Tuerong Chardonnay and the Main Ridge – it could be different regions. It’s completely different aspects, different bodies of water that have a huge influence on it as well. - Will Byron, Onannon Will Byron has spent years exploring the nooks and crannies of the Mornington Peninsula, unearthing some of its most exciting vineyard sites along the way. After a long & successful stint as winemaker at Stonier,…

There’s something special about a change in season, particularly when it’s timed with welcoming a wine that is grown at a place that is truly one with its surroundings and works is complete symbiosis with the environment that has brought it to life. The 2022 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir, a wine that perfectly captures the character of this exceptional Central Otago vineyard, is one such wine. The 2022 growing season was beautifully settled, with minimal frost pressure and ideal ripening conditions, allowing the fruit to develop purity, balance and finesse. Winemaker Claire Mulholland describes…

"This is the best vintage yet!" - Julian Langworthy   Julian Langworthy is quite the wordsmith and many of his, let’s say, taglines, are well known (and loved) to those who have come along for the journey throughout his illustrious winemaking career.  And, as much as they’re often received with a chuckle, these turns of phrase are a big contributor to his reputation as one of the most admired and highly-regarded winemakers in this country.  Not only is he one of Australia’s most gifted talents, his ability to…

The Yeringberg release each year is always one of the most exciting days on the CellarHand calendar, and never more so than with this stunning bracket from the brilliant, if not tiny, 2022 vintage.  Over the years we’ve seen these wines emerge with a continued sense of grace and a great sense of terroir and have clearly become one of our national vinous treasures. A multi-generational family, Sandra, David and their team are leading this estate into the next half of the decade with renewed focus and vision. These wines represent the…

A Quick Swirl from the past 6 months... As we gear up for what is going to be an epic 2025, we’ve been reflecting on all that's been going on at CellarHand over the last few months. To say it's been busy is an understatement!  We’ve welcomed Corsican legends Domaine Vico and Clos Venturi to the family, and their wines have stopped those who have been lucky enough to try  them already in their tracks, and are a must for anyone with a passing interest in intriguing, thought provoking, and ultimately delicious wines.…

As we head into the festive season and the smell of barbecues and pavlova fills the air, we asked our team what they'll be bringing to their Christmas tables this year. Along with their picks, they've shared a little snippet of how they'll be celebrating - whether they're soaking up the sun on a holiday, or celebrating at home. Being part of the CellarHand family means we're spoilt for choice - and it's no surprise that our lineup spans the breadth of our incredible portfolio. We're ready to pop some corks,…

Introducing Domaine Vico & Clos Venturi to the CellarHand Portfolio At CellarHand, bringing new producers into the portfolio is always a thrilling milestone and meeting Jean-Marc and Manu Venturi last year was just about the highlight of our year. It's a privilege to meet winemakers with such deep-rooted passion for their craft, and tell the story of a region that is as fierce and beautiful as the wine themselves.  Founded by Jean-Marc Venturi in the 1980s, the original vineyards were planted in 1901 by Jean Vico, who wanted to…

"If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise” or so the song about a mass gathering of teddy bears goes; but the truth is, there are certainly no surprises in the Woods here! 2024 marks our 3rd year of celebrating the remarkable Reserve releases from the team at Deep Woods Estate and there is one thing for certain, these wines, year in, year out, deliver the goods.  The same can be said for the entire Deep Woods Estate line-up…

The Holyman release marks an especially thrilling time of the year, when winter coats are stowed away, and the sweet smell of spring fills the air. Birds are chirping, and a gentle gurgling sound is heard from afar, as Joe Holyman emerges from his Tamar Valley shed, ready to introduce the fruits of his labour. 2023 presented its fair share of challenges, but it ultimately shaped up to be a remarkable vintage. The warmer weather resulted in wines that are approachable yet layered with complexity…

A Force to be Reckoned with...  Over the last couple of years, one of the pillars of our Winter release calendar has become the magnificent wines of Tasmania’s fledgling, yet brilliant, Lowestoft Estate. And, this year is no different as we introduce a fabulous collection of wines from the Lowestoft team that is lead by the enigmatic and brilliant Liam McElhinney. The Estate releases expertly express the sum of the parts, taking fruit from multiple postage stamp-sized vineyards across the Tasman Peninsula, Coal River and East Coast to showcase the…

Rob and Gen Mann Strike Again...    It’s the moment we've all been waiting for: the highly anticipated release of Corymbia’s 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon from their Calgardup Vineyard in the Margaret River. As Erin Larkin once stated, it is a “routinely beautiful wine,” and it is a testament to the Mann’s confidence in the vineyard and their manner of stepping out of its way. Planted in 2002 on the unique Keenan gravelly loam soil, just 2km inland from the iconic Redgate Beach, this vineyard lies…

Roll out the Barrels...   It is with much excitement that we announce the latest news to come from the Punt Road stable – the 2023 Barrel Selection wines. Punt Road’s new-look black label is just what is sounds like, a selection of the top barrels from the estate. Only made in exceptional vintages, these hand-selected parcels are a truly stunning expression of the much-hyped 2023 vintage.   The Pinot Noir is exclusively grown on Blocks 1 and 5 from the Napoleone Vineyard, from the original 35-year-old plantings of MV6 Pinot Noir. This vine age lends darkness…

Sure to Go Down as an All-Time Classic   I’ve been looking forward to this release for quite some time. It’s a release that combines some of the greatest growers in Australia, some of the oldest vineyards in the world and a winemaker that is at the top of their game. All of that combined with the near perfect 2022 vintage, it’s sure to go down as an all-time classic. Upon tasting through these wines, they are immense, powerful and intense, yet with real poise…

Friday July 26 is a momentous day in the great journey we call CellarHand - Sam Hooper’s final day with us. How do you summarise a tenure on some 18 years in one email? The answer is you don’t! What we can say hand on heart though is that Sam’s contribution over all these years has been immense. Huge. Massive. Mind-Boggling. Loyalty is such a treasure in any context, and Sam has been the epitome of that ever since he joined us in August 2007. Think about that for a…

Standing Out from the Crowd We had the pleasure of travelling to Burgenland last September to visit Gerhard and Brigitte Pittnauer.  Time almost stood still as we were welcomed like family and spent a gorgeous afternoon in their home. As ever, the wines showed their distinct personality, full of character, conviction and joy of spontaneity. Tasting with Gerhard and Brigitte is truly one of the wine world’s greatest pleasures. They live and breathe their craft, their region, their heritage. They understand that culture plays as important a…