About

The heart of the Chalmers family has always been in the Murray Darling wine region.
Merbein, just outside Mildura, is where the family’s home is, and the location of the Chalmers’ Vineyard and vine nursery. This unique and diverse land is also the adopted home to every variety they’ve imported to Australia over the last twenty years, and is the source block for supplying millions of vines planted across Australia’s wine regions, hence the name ‘Mother Block’. These Mother Blocks have given the Chalmers family the privilege of being the very first growers to see how these grapes could perform in Australia and have been the source of many of Australia’s many favourite varieties, including Sagrantino and Nero d’Avola, with newcomers Falanghina just a few years ago, and Nerello Mascalese, the Mount Etna star, coming very soon.
These new wines, aptly named ‘Mother Block’, come from red sand and limestone soils and are estate grown, sustainably farmed, ethically tended, co-fermented and vegan friendly. The wines are bottled with the use of lightweight glass and labelled with 100% recycled materials.

About

Bruce and Jenni Chalmers started growing grapes in the 1980s, with their vineyard at Euston developing into one of the largest and most diverse privately owned vineyards in the country. Their nursery business was responsible for importing a selection of around 70 new clones and varieties, many of which are now used in the production of Chalmers’ Italian variety wines. Since selling the original vineyard in 2008, the family has established two new sites: one in Heathcote, and an experimental vineyard in Merbein. Named Viticulturalist of the Year by Gourmet Traveller wine, their commitment and innovation and excellence has made them a pivotal force in the wine industry for decades. Daughters Kim and Tennille are paving the way, driving the business forward and experimenting with new varieties and clones.