About Coldstream Hills
- 1985
- Established by James and Suzanne Halliday. After sighting the property, they purchased the land ‘on the spot’ some 5 years ahead of their intended date.
- Planting of Amphitheatre and House Block vineyards.
- 1987
- Construction of on site winery; acquired adjoining 15 hectare property.
- 1988
- First commercial vintage from estate grown fruit; James Halliday retires from law to pursue winemaking full time.
- 1993
- Acquisition of nearby Briarston Vineyard.
- 1996
- Southcorp Wines purchases the Coldstream Hills winery with the small, quality oriented practices retained and further enhanced.
- Expansion of winery to 1300 tonnes capacity, housing 3000 French Oak barriques.
Since its first vintage in 1985, Coldstream Hills has grown to be one of the Australia’s leading small wineries, with a reputation for producing an outstanding range of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Varietal and Reserve wines.
Situated in the cool and beautiful Yarra Valley, about one hour’s drive east of Melbourne, its steep, close-planted vineyards have become a signature of the region.
Coldstream Hills maintains its small winery essence with most of the wine literally being “hand made”. The fruit is hand pruned and partially hand picked; the wine is made mainly using small open fermenters (of three to four tonnes capacity for the red wines, while the whites are principally barrel fermented). Winemaking techniques and philosophies haven’t changed with the growth in production either; all designed to produce elegant wines with a long finish.