M. Chapoutier Australia

M. Chapoutier Australia is the eponymous offshoot of the famous Rhône Valley producer. The business focuses on vineyards in the Pyrenees, Heathcote and Beechworth with collaboration from Ron Laughton of Jasper Hill and Rick Kinzbrunner of Giaconda. After first establishing a vineyard in Heathcote adjacent to Jasper Hill, Chapoutier purchased the Malakoff Vineyard in the Pyrenees to create Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier (the Terlato & Chapoutier joint venture was established in 2000; Terlato still owns 50% of the Malakoff Vineyard). In ’09 Michel Chapoutier purchased 2 neighbouring vineyards, Landsborough Valley and Shays Flat; all these are now fully owned by Tournon. (Tournon consists of Landsborough Valley and Shays Flat estates in the Pyrenees and Lady’s Lane Estate in Heathcote.) -JAMES HALLIDAY