Balgownie Estate

Established in 1969, Balgownie Estate was the first boutique vineyard to be planted in the Bendigo district in more than 80 years and by the mid 1970's Balgownie Estate had developed an enviable reputation especially for its Cabernet Sauvignon. The original owner sold the winery in the mid eighties to the Mildara empire (later to become Mildara Blass, then Beringer Blass and now Foster’s Wine Estates). Balgownie Estate (as it has become known)continued producing the long-lived wines for which it had become known, all be it in smaller volumes and diminished distribution.

By the late 1990s Balgownie had disappeared into the shadows and in mid-1999 it was offered for sale. The winery and vineyards where purchased by Des and Rod Forrester who had always admired the Balgownie wines. They immediately set about expanding and revitalising the vineyards and winery. New plantings took the area under vine to 85 acres and a new cellar door was opened in 2001.

Recent vintages have seen Balgownie Estate's wines return to form with both the Estate Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon receiving rave reviews both in Australia and overseas.

The 32 hectare vineyard is situated on a gentle slope overlooking the Myers Creek at Maiden Gully. The varieties grown include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc.

Winemaker: Tobias Ansted
Export contact: Tobias Ansted
Address: 46 Hermitage Road, Maiden Gully, Victoria 3551
Telephone: +61 3 5449 6222
Fax: +61 3 5449 6506
Email: winery@balgownieestate.com.au
Web address: www.balgownieestate.com.au
Vineyard: 32 Hectares
Production: Currently 5000 cases annually growing to 15,000 cases.
Brands: Balgownie Estate