December '24
December
Finally, the month of sparkling! One to share with family and friends, or to reflect on the year gone by on your own. With over 5 years ageing in the bottle on yeast lees, December brings the Oakridge Blanc de Blancs 2017.
The wine
The wine is made in the traditional sparkling method (Méthode champenoise) from 100% Chardonnay grapes from the Yarra Valley and was included in the recent Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wines of 2024 – we got the last few cases; don’t say we never do anything for you!
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley has a history spanning over 30,000 years, with the Wurundjeri people as its traditional landowners. The Yarra River, known as "Birrarung" (place of mists and shadows), is central to the region's identity, with an Aboriginal Dreamtime story explaining how a wedge-tailed eagle carved the river into the landscape.
Today, the Yarra Valley is internationally recognized for its cool-climate wines, with 2,837 hectares of vineyards. The region's diverse geography supports a variety of climates and soils, allowing both classic wine varieties and emerging styles to flourish.
Vineyards were first planted in 1838 by the Ryrie brothers at Yering Station. In the 1890s, there was confidence that local wines, especially pinot noir and cabernet, could rival French wines. However, by the 1930s, viticulture declined as dairying became more profitable, and by 1937, commercial vineyards disappeared.
The wine industry revived in the 1960s, driven by a growing demand for boutique wines, particularly pinot noir, chardonnay, and cabernet, leading to a resurgence of vineyards in the region.
OAKRIDGE
Oakridge played a key role in reviving the Yarra Valley wine region, beginning in 1978 with Horst “Jim” Zitzlaff planting cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and Rhine riesling on a former cherry orchard in Wandin East. Initially producing a single wine each year, Oakridge introduced two styles in 1986: a rich cabernet sauvignon and a softer cabernet/merlot blend. Under winemaker Michael Zitzlaff, the estate gained acclaim for its award-winning wines, including a renowned $100 merlot. In 1998, Oakridge moved to a new location in Coldstream, establishing a winery and cellar door. Current Chief Winemaker David Bicknell has been at the helm since 2002, and together with Senior Viticulturist Steve Falkner, have overseen the brand reach new heights including the Halliday winery of the year and wine of the year in the past 12 months.