Milvine Estate Wines

Jo and Graeme Millard planted clonally selected shiraz (90%) and cabernet sauvignon (10%) in 1995, picking their first grapes in '98; in that and the ensuing four vintages the grapes were sold to Heathcote Winery, but in 2003 part of the production was vinified by Heathcote Winery for the Millards, and in '06 all production moved onsite to Milvine Estate. The Millards support and use the principles of sustainable, minimal chemical intervention in the vineyard and during wine production. The wines are handcrafted, the grapes receiving minimal irrigation during the growing period (the main irrigation is at budburst, and again at veraison), when the vines sometimes receive a small amount of seaweed-based fertiliser. -JAMES HALLIDAY