Have you ever wondered what drives a winemaker to follow their passion? We would like to offer you a glimpse into the minds and hearts of our talented winemaking team. Today, we have interviewed Senior Winemaker Marcus Holt.

1. When and how did you realise you wanted to be a winemaker? I clearly remember at 18 years of age being taken by a friends family on a wine tour of Great Western, visiting Bests and Seppelts and thinking how amazing the wines were, while witnessing the passion and enthusiasm of the cellar door staff and the enjoyment of my friends father. I think that’s when the bug really bit. It was the realisation that you could be part of crafting something so remarkable that has the potential to give so much more than the contents of the glass.

2. What does the average workday look like for you and what keeps you passionate about making wine? The day always starts with a coffee and a bit of banter with the team. Depending on the time of year the schedule changes from the madness of harvest and monitoring ferments, conducting lab analysis and barrel work all through to getting previous vintage wines ready for bottling. The days are seldom alike, as are the vintages they come from which I think in the end is the driver. The best wine you’ve made hasn’t been made yet. 

3. What do you drink at home? Do you have a favourite Scotchmans Hill wine? Do I have a favourite Scotchmans Hill wine??? No, I love all my children equally…..except Chardonnay she’s a ripping kid!

4. What makes a good winemaker? A realisation that we are a cog in larger machine, pulling together to make great wine. From Belinda, Mark and the vineyard team, to Beck who runs our office, we can’t do what we do with out their heavy lift. We’re just lucky enough to taste the wines before anyone else.

 5. What is the best advice you have ever received? Just breathe.

18th April 2024

This past week, barrel work has been the focus in the winery, where the 2023 Scotchmans Hill Pinot Noir was extracted and the same barrels were refilled with the 2024 vintage. The new vintage will be matured in these French barriques for the next 12 months.

8th April 2024

A new chapter of Scotchmans wine story is being written, albeit in the deep burgundy ink of pressed grapes. One of a whole new collection of varieties, Sangiovese was our last pressing for 2024.

As pioneers of winemaking on the Bellarine, Scotchmans Hill has historically invested in pushing boundaries. Our future is set to maintain this synergy of tradition and innovation. We can't wait to share more of this journey with you. Stay tuned.

26th March 2024

Today is our last day of picking, marking the end of our harvest season. Over the next 2-3 weeks, the Winery team will be working hard to top up the wine ferments in the barrels: the process of adding more wine to minimize exposure to oxygen. Our earliest pick of Pinot Noir will be the first wine to go to barrel.

21st March 2024

As we near the end of this year's harvest, we have just a few more days left to handpick our prized Shiraz grapes. Following the Shiraz, we will move on to the Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as our new varieties Sangiovese and Tempranillo.

Despite enduring a dry spell, with a mere 5mm of rainfall recorded since January, the grape quality remains exceptional. The Shiraz vines have exhibited resilience amid the recent heat wave. 

14th March 2024

Our winery team is completing the daily task of plunging the cap.

In winemaking, the ‘cap’ consists of grape skins, pips, and pulp, which are lifted to the top of the vats by the carbon dioxide naturally produced during the first fermentation process. Plunging the cap (or Pigeage) refers to the traditional process of submerging the cap back into the liquid (must) to extract the colour, tannins, and flavour of the grape solids.This process also ensures that the cap stays moist to prevent bacteria growth, which could potentially spoil the beautiful wine below. 

Meanwhile, in the vineyard, the team has Sangiovese, Shiraz, and Cabernet left on the vines to harvest.

5th March 2024

We have officially reached the midway stage of our 2024 vintage. This week, our team is primarily engaged in harvesting the remaining Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Rosé. The last to be collected will be Shiraz, Cabernet, Late Harvest Riesling, and our new alternate varieties.

26th February 2024

Our vineyard team is working extremely hard, currently picking Pinot Noir grapes from our Scotchmans Hill vines, resulting in the earliest harvest of Pinot Noir grapes.

Most varieties are expected to be picked by the end of next week, with only Shiraz and Chardonnay left on the vines. Having all of the grapes harvested will put our vineyard team 3 and a half weeks in advance of last year's vintage.

9th February 2024

Our vintage season is officially underway, marking the earliest start to vintage in 40 years. A busy and very exciting time ahead for our Winery and Viticulture teams as we head into harvest. 

7th February 2024

The newly established 16.5-acre Chardonnay vineyard is displaying strong, impressive growth.

1st February 2024

Our team has been busy wire lifting between the young vines' foliage to support the weight of their growth and encourage further vertical growth. Veraison is well in advance, with harvesting scheduled to commence in 3-4 weeks. Most fruit is expected to be harvested by March into early April.