The Payne's Rise Vineyard
Our vineyard is situated on a North facing slope of Seville in the Upper Yarra Valley region. This area experiences cooler average temperatures than the Northern and Central regions of the Valley, mainly due to its higher elevation.
The elevation of our particular site is 200m above sea level. The soil type is an immensely deep and fertile red volcanic light clay soil. The climate provides for a very slow even fruit ripening period, reflected in the intense fruit characters from the area.
...Great wines begin in the vineyard.
We endeavour to produce fruit that is of the highest quality from vines that are in 'balance'..
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The cool climate coupled with the regions relatively high average rainfall and fertile soils provides for very healthy and vigorous vines. Many Viticultural management techniques are employed to manipulate the vines growth to achieve a balance between vegetative growth and desired fruit production.
Our cabernet vines are grown on a 'Scott Henry' trellis system. This split canopy system enables closer plantings, therefore higher planting densities for increased vine competition and devigoration.
It also allows for high light interception to the fruiting zones for increased colour and flavour. Over time this canopy system has optimised our fruit quality. Vines are all cane pruned providing for the desired balanced vine.
The crop is thinned after Veraison (beginning of fruit colouration) to maintain our low cropping levels. At harvest all fruit is hand picked.
We employ methods (sometimes very labour intensive) to control crop levels, vigour and fruit exposure.
We aim to express varietal flavours that are displaying unique differences through canopy management and planting densities.