The Old Dairy Shiraz
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled lamb chops, roasted venison, aged cheddar cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the cool, maritime climate of the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, The Old Dairy Shiraz by Scotchman's Hill pays direct tribute to the estate's agricultural heritage. Before the Browne family planted their first vines in 1982, this wind-swept coastal property operated as a traditional local dairy farm. Today, the black volcanic soils that once nourished dairy pastures yield a highly elegant, cool-climate style of Shiraz. Unlike the heavy, jammy profiles found in warmer Australian regions, this wine is defined by its savory complexity, vibrant dark berry fruit, and a distinct signature of cracked black pepper, all framed by fine-grained tannins from careful French oak maturation.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1982 by David and Vivienne Browne on an erstwhile dairy farm, Scotchmans Hill stands as the pioneer and quintessential benchmark estate of Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula within the Geelong wine region. Perched atop the peninsula's extinct volcanic outcrop, the vineyards benefit from fertile black basaltic clays over limestone subsoils, complemented by maritime microclimates moderated by Port Phillip Bay and the Southern Ocean. Under the stewardship of long-tenured Chief Winemaker Robin Brockett, who joined the fold in 1988, the estate champions low-intervention viticulture certified under Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Brockett's cellar philosophy prioritizes site-driven purity, native fermentations, sensitive French oak integration, and extended lees maturation. Scotchmans Hill produces distinguished cold-climate expressions, most notably its flagship Estate and Cornelius Chardonnay, tactile Pinot Gris, and estate Sauvignon Blanc, alongside celebrated regional ventures like the Henry Frost Riesling and approachable Jack & Jill tiers.
🍇 Grapes
Shiraz
🍷 ABV
13.5% - 14.0%