Cellarhand Punt Road

About Punt Road

The names Punt Road and Airlie Bank recognise the important role the Punt Road estate played in the history of grape growing in the Yarra Valley. On Melbourne's Punt Road, against the bank of the Yarra River, once sat the Airlie Bank vineyard. It was from here in 1860 that Hubert De Castella, a Swiss immigrant and pioneering grape grower, acquired vine cuttings to plant 200 acres of vineyard in Coldstream. The wines produced from those historic vines quickly gained acclaim and recognition in Australia and Europe. This land would later become the home of the original St Hubert's vineyard and then the Punt Road vineyard and winery.

In 1926, Joseph Napoleone migrated from Abruzzi in Italy to Australia with a dream to one day bring his family with him. However, amidst the turmoil of the Great Depression and World War II, the family were kept apart for almost two decades. Then, in 1948, the now-reunited Napoleone family purchased land in Wandin in the Yarra Valley and began their first family business, Red Rich Fruits, operating as orchardists growing apples.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the third generation of the Napoleone family - Josephina, Joseph, and Michael - were born right when grape growing in the Yarra Valley was being re-established. In 1978, the family acquired the property in Coldstream and replanted much of the vineyard in 1987. Their goal was to create wines that reflected the heritage of their site and the independent, creative energy of the Yarra Valley.

Today, 58 hectares of the historic Coldstream estate is under vine, along with apple and pear trees, a nod to great grandfather Joseph. The key wine varieties include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, and Shiraz. The estate winery, where all our wines are produced, sits in the middle of the estate. The Napoleone family's third and fourth generations are the current owners and operators of the vineyards and winery, with a strong focus on creating a lasting legacy for future generations.

About Jarrod Johnson

Jarrod took over winemaking responsibilities at Punt Road in 2022 and it’s an incredibly exciting next stage of evolution for both Punt Road and this charming and affable Yarra Local.
Having completed a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Technology, majoring in Winemaking and Viticulture from Latrobe University and Melbourne Polytechnic, Jarrod spent several years at Domaine Chandon learning the ropes, predominantly focused on making serious sparkling wine whilst being mentored by a phenomenal team of legendary Yarra winemakers. It was at Chandon that Jarrod learned the more ‘technical’ side of the winegrowing business before his talent and skills saw him lured away and onto a successful and fruitful stint at the Yarra icon that is Seville Estate. Working side by side with Dylan McMahon, together they made some incredible wines for the next 5 vintages.
Spending a significant time in the vines was an inspiring time for Jarrod, further cementing his belief that all great wines are made in the vineyard. The time at Seville Estate helped him to not only refine his palate and winegrowing skills, but also laid the foundations for the next stage of his winegrowing journey that has seen him land the exciting role at Punt Road and we can’t wait to see him continue the quality driven path that the Punt Road team have forged over the last few decades of dedication to their patch of dirt up in the Yarra.

Current Range

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2023 Punt Road Barrel Selection Pinot Noir

Punt Road

2023 Punt Road Barrel Selection Chardonnay

Punt Road

2021 Punt Road Cellar Reserve Pinot Noir

Punt Road

2021 Punt Road Block 3 Cabernet

Punt Road

2023 Punt Road Gamay

Punt Road

2019 Punt Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Punt Road

2023 Punt Road Shiraz

Punt Road

2023 Punt Road Pinot Noir

Punt Road

2023 Punt Road Chardonnay

Punt Road

2024 Punt Road Pinot Gris

Punt Road

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