Not surprisingly, the vineyards and winery of Zig Zag Rd Wines are on Zig Zag Road. A rally driver's dream, Zig Zag Road once had two double right-angled bends and several sharp single bends. When one of the right-angled beds was smoothed out, it left a small triangle of Zig Zag Rd land right in the middle of the road.
Against a backdrop of rolling hills, the undulating rows of vines on the property present visitors to the Zig Zag Rd tasting room with a stunning vista. Here you will be greeted by Eric and Anne Bellchambers, the lovely people who own the property, or Alan Stevens, their talented winemaker and the former owner of Zig Zag Rd.
Sheep grazed on the property, prior to its reincarnation as a vineyard and, today, although fewer in numbers, they still keep the grass down and fertilise the land. The Bellchambers run a small Suffolk sheep stud and in winter the pretty black-faced sheep graze contentedly beneath the vines.
Zig Zag Rd is one of the oldest established vineyards in the region, having been planted in 1972 by Roger Aldridge of The Mill Restaurant in Malmsbury. After investigating several sites in the area, Roger had a look at the property on Zig Zag Road. Its combination of red clay soil and underlying basalt, the sloping land, as well as its elevation and aspect, made it the ideal place to establish a cool climate vineyard. Roger planted Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot vines.
In 2002 Eric and Anne Bellchambers bought Zig Zag Rd Winery from Alan Stevens and Debbie Orton. In 2003 they planted Riesling vines and added another 1.25 acres of Merlot to the existing half-acre. In 2004 Eric, Anne, their family and friends will plant more Riesling and Pinot Noir vines and, once they've finished, a total of 10 acres will be under vine.
The vines are unirrigated and both the Merlot and Riesling vines are close planted. Low yielding, the vines produce wines of intense colour and distinct flavours.
Zig Zag will be offering a regional platter at the winery over the next couple of weekends (21-30 May 2010)featuring Goldfield Farmhouse Cheeses(Ballarat), Olives (Kyneton Olive Oil), Ista Smallgoods, Malmsbury Bread, Castlemaine Dips and Quince Paste (Olive Branch Preserves.
The following are the Zig Zag Rd Wines that are currently available:
Zig Zag Rd 2003 Riesling: straw coloured with an intense tropical fruit nose. It is a well-balanced wine that has distinct fresh, crisp lemon citrus flavours with great persistence. The cold climate leads to relative high levels of acidity which will allow it be cellared for up to eight years, gaining greater complexity.
Zig Zag Rd 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon: a full-bodied wine with distinctive cherry, plum and ripe berry flavours. It has definite tannins and the distinctive dark chocolate aromas that are unique to the soil and climate of this region. This wine will cellar for five to 10 years.
Zig Zag Rd 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot: a classic blend (75%-25%) of two complementary varieties. The result is a softer wine with aromas of ripe plums and cedar. It has softer tannins and while drinking well now, it will cellar for three to five years.
Zig Zag Rd 2001 Shiraz: a lighter style, typical of the cooler climates. It has distinctive pepper on the nose and subtle fruit on the palate, reminiscent of berries and blackcurrants, and softened by ageing in American oak. Drink now or cellar for two to five years.
Zig Zag Rd Pinot Noir: a more full-bodied wine than is usual with this variety. The colour and depth is due to maceration both pre and post fermentation. It has a herbaceous nose and wild raspberry flavours and will cellar well for three to five years. The 2003 vintage will be available in late October 2004.
Awards garnered by Zig Zag Rd Wines include:
· 2003 Riesling: Bronze Medal at the Daylesford Wine Show
· 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon: Bronze Medal at the Ballarat Wine Show, Daylesford Wine Show and the Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition
· 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon: Bronze Medal at the Daylesford Wine Show
· 2001 Cabernet/Merlot: Bronze Medal at the Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition and at the Daylesford Wine Show
· 2000 Cabernet/Merlot: Bronze Medal at the Seymour Show
· 1998 Cabernet/Merlot: Bronze Medal at the Ballarat Wine Show
· 1998 Cabernet/Merlot: Bronze Medal at Red Hill Cool Climate Wine Show.
With a trusted workforce of family and friends to hand-pick and hand-prune their precious fruit, and a talented winemaker to turn it into fine wine, their slogan, "We grow what we bottle and bottle what we grow" is but one of the many strengths of Zig Zag Rd Wines.
The Bellchambers also own Kyneton Gourmet (High Street, Kyneton) where you can taste and buy their wines, and purchase products from other DMP members.
Product availability:
Kyneton Cellars, Johnsons Cellars Woodend, Foodworks Gisborne, Roomba's Wine Bar Gisborne, Mt Macedon Trading Post, Mt Macedon Hotel, Blackwood Hotel, Tylden General Store
|
- Address
- 201 Zig Zag Road, North Drummond , Victoria , Australia, 3446
- Telephone
- 03 5423 9390
- Website
- Click Here
- Opening Hours
- 10-5pm Weekends & Public Holidays or by appointment
- Town
- Malmsbury
- Contact
- Anne and Eric Bellchambers
|
