BEN HAINES
Country: Australia
Region: Victoria
Sub-region: Yarra Valley
Website: visit here
Ben Haines cut his teeth working at Mount Langi Ghiran winery before establishing his own operations on the outskirts of Melbourne.
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He owns a couple of well-sited hectares of Pinot Noir in the Yarra Valley, and works with like-minded growers to source quality grapes from cool, expressive places that will largely speak for themselves, given the opportunity.'
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Ben's extensive range is split into three tiers from the superb value 'everyday series' through the Colour Block trio (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah), to the single-vineyard Design Series. Across the board, the wines undergo a minimum handling. The majority is raised in used puncheons; they receive a small dose of SO2 at bottling and are un-fined and unfiltered. The watchwords here are expressiveness, purity and accessibility, though the Design Series in particular deliveries real complexity and the capacity for aging.
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We regard Ben as one of Australia's most exciting young winemakers and are thrilled to represent him in Ireland.​
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Everyday Series
The Sanford & Benedict vineyard, located in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, was planted in 1971 and is home to the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Santa Barbara County. The soils in the western Santa Ynez Valley have lower quantities of clay than other areas of the valley. They are comprised of Gazos clay loam, with 15% to 30% slopes, and Santa Lucia shaley clay loam, with 9% to 15% slopes in blocks 5, 6 and 10. The area receives foggy mornings and long, cool days, resulting in a longer growing season and lower yields.
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Colour Block Series
His Colour Block Series Pinot Noir showcases the Steels Creek vineyard. Ben always crafts his wines in a way that allows the end product to sing of the place it hails from, ensuring he preserves the character of the terroir.
3
Design Series
Located 18 miles from the ocean in the Santa Maria Valley, the Bien Nacido Vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vines grow in soils comprised of the Elder series and Shedd series. The Elder series consists of two blocks, found on flood plains and alluvial fans with an elevation range of 100 to 1,500 feet, with 9% to 15% slopes. The site experiences an average annual rainfall of 12 to 18 inches. Just uphill along the road is where the well-drained, Chamise clay loams of the Shedd series can be found. Slopes here are 30% to 45% and elevations range from 200 to 2,500 feet, with an average annual rainfall of 14 to 16 inches.
Gavin Chanin brings a unique artistic touch to the world of wine by painting his own labels. Each label reflects his passion for both winemaking and art, transforming the bottle into a canvas that tells a story. This personal approach not enhances the aesthetic appeal of his wines but also connects consumers to the artistry behind each sip. Gavin’s labels are a testament to his creativity making every bottle a work of art in its own right.
