Vitto Oles & Candi Westney Rocky Passes Estate 1590 Highlands Rd Whiteheads Creek Vic 3660 Australia 61 3 5796 9366 rockypasses@activ8.net.au Rocky Passes Estate Rocky Passes Vineyard Rocky Passes is a cool climate vineyard that sits at the southern end of the Strathbogie Ranges in the Upper Goulburn Valley winegrowing region of Victoria. It is about 300 metres above sea level, on clay loam, with a sub-soil of ironstone and quartz gravel. This layer of buckshot carries water that the vines will be able to tap into as they mature. Since we are small ... well, micro in fact ... we are able to treat our 5 acres of Syrah and 1 acre of Viognier with extra care. We have used minimal irrigation to establish the vineyard, and prefer organic practices and biodynamic preparations to the more harmful chemical regimes. We crop at around 2 tonnes per acre to optimise ripening and flavour, and we prune and pick by hand. Our main preventative against fungal disease is careful canopy management to create airflow. Winemaking Vitto Oles uses gentle, traditional winemaking processes such as hand picking, basket pressing, open vat fermentation, and racking in preference to filtration. Wines Our 2004 Syrah is a rich, full-bodied wine that features earthy aromas, a long palate with lingering berry, licorice, chocolate and spice flavours, enhanced and rounded by the subtle tannins of French and American oak. Although young it is ready to drink now; however, the 2004 Syrah will continue to develop and reach its peak at about 2010. From our 2005 vintage, we have produced a Syrah and a wild ferment Syrah (from our 9 year old vines). Both are looking and tasting good! These have been available from 2006 to celebrate the opening of the Rocky Passes cellar door. In 2007, a Viognier and Syrah-Viognier blend were added, completing our range. Orders At present, you can order by mail, phone or e-mail. Rocky Passes Cellar Door Our cellar door opened in 2006. You are invited to come and taste the wine, see the work of local artists and enjoy the fine furniture of Vitto Oles. You can visit Vitto's workshop by appointment ... or just enjoy the surrounds by taking a walk around the vineyard. E-mail us at: rockypasses@activ8.net.au Visit us at: www.goulburnrandr.com.au Copyright © 2009 Rocky Passes Estate