Our Wines
All our wines are made solely from grapes grown at Tarrahill – they are ‘estate’ wines. We currently make Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Our winemaking philosophy is simple: grow the best fruit in a healthy vineyard, pick the grapes at their best and minimise intervention in the winemaking process. The objective is to let the quality of the grapes be displayed in the wine.
The newsletter sent to those on our mailing list will contain details about the wines to be released, including information on the season, how the wines were made and commentary on them.
Our People
JONATHAN HAMER - WINE MAKER.
Jonathan has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Winescience from Charles Sturt University. Once a lawyer, he bought Tarrahill in 1988 : just a large grass paddock: and planted a vineyard of 5 acres to supply grapes to his father-in-law, Ian Hanson, and then a further 20 acres to supply grapes to others in the Yarra Valley. So, for over 20 years, Jonathan has been in the wine industry but only recently has he made winemaking a full time activity.
ANDREA HAMER - VINEYARD MANAGER.
Someone has to be in charge! Especially when it’s the quality of the grapes which is fundamental to the wines.Doctor Andy now cares more about plants than the sick and is a strong advocate of permaculture and biodynamics. Under her supervision the vineyard is becoming healthier, more disease resistant and has better soils. We use no insecticides or chemical fertilizers and are working towards not having to use herbicides or fungicides.
GEOF FETHERS: THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT.
Geof has worked for no pay, except for a good feed, on most weekends for over 20 years at Tarrahill, including assisting at all harvests at Tarrahill and at Ian Hanson’s. Anyone who has worked alone knows the enormous difference it makes to have another person there to help, talk and to achieve. Without Geof’s help Tarrahill wouldn’t be.
Geof also did the CSU winescience course with Jonathan: neither would have made it to gain a degree if the two of them hadn’t done it together. Geof is wildly enthusiastic about wine, but just try asking him about Geology!