Barwon Ridge Wines

In 1999 Geoff and Joan Anson planted chardonnay, shiraz and marsanne at Barwon Ridge, the vines growing slowly in the limestone soil. The vineyard nestles in the Barrabool Hills, just to the west of Geelong. Geoff and Joan focus on producing premium fruit; the vineyard is now planted to pinot noir, pinot meunier, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, marsanne and chardonnay. The wines are made at Leura Park. The vineyard is part of the re-emergence of winemaking in the Barrabool Hills, after the area’s first boom from the 1840s to the ’80s. The well-written website contains a wealth of information about the history of the region. -JAMES HALLIDAY