Fighting Gully Road Verdicchio 2024

Mark Walpole has graduated from being arguably one of Australia's greatest viticulturalists to become one of its greatest vignerons. His interest in cool climate viticulture led him from his home in the Ovens Valley to the elevated Beechworth plateau at the top of the Escarpment above the Murmungee basin.

The site was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Merlot in 1997 on the lower North West facing slopes, followed by Pinot Noir in 1998 on the upper North East facing slopes at an elevation of 570 meters. In more recent years after working with fruit from this block small areas have been grafted to Shiraz, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Chardonnay and Petit Menseng.

In 2009 he gained access to the Smith Vineyard, located only a few minutes away from the Fighting Gully Road site. This small vineyard was planted to Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1978, making it the oldest vineyard in the region.  

The third vintage of this variety for Fighting Gully Road and one of the very few Australian examples available. The variety and this particular clone were originally introduced by Mark while working for Brown Brothers in the mid 1990's. Hand harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented in stainless steel the wine was matured for 12 months in a 1600 Lt Italian coopers French oak Botti and seasoned 500Lt puncheons. The 1600 Lt Botti is Oval shaped and positioned on its side to allow for maximum lees contact.

No insecticides are used and fungicide selection is careful made to protect predatory mites and other beneficial insects. Soil structure is maintained through minimal application of herbicide; soil cultivation is not practiced. The inter-row is sown to a permanent sward of grasses and legumes, which are seasonally slashed and thrown onto the ground immediately under the vine, to preserve moisture and increase organic matter. Vine prunings are mulched back into the ground to degrade naturally.