Winemaking

Since 2015 our vintages have been made in small batches: picked, pressed, shoveled and plunged by hand. There is no formula here — just what our winemaker Caroline Mooney sees, smells, and tastes, intuiting what each wine needs in the process.

Every harvest is different, so our wines are, too. We’re not here to make the same tasting wines each year; we make wines of interest that exemplify the land they come from.

The barrel room has been here since ’05 (and now used for dining sometimes)
2020 vintage in the Lilydale winery
Caroline sampling the 2019 Estate Shiraz vintage
Scoperta Pinot Grigio / $32
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
Small batch wines
Climate conscious
Handmade in the Yarra Valley
Paired with real food
It’s no secret yarra valley’s climate is changing. classic varieties are using more resources and proving less resilient. Zonzo wine is different because it has to be.
in the next decade we’re reworking blocks and planting young vines suited to a warmer climate. The Scoperta range will inform future plantings, introduce new wines to the region and uncover varieties that will thrive here 10, 20 — even 30 years from now.
Zonzo Caroline sniffing wine.
Caroline in a field, black and white.

Caroline Mooney, Winemaker

Raised in Yarra Valley (on a farm next to Zonzo Estate no less), Caroline’s wine journey has seen her travel all over Australia, to France and back again — picking up a degree in wine science along the way.

Her understanding of terroir is instinctive and her respect for the land and traditional winemaking processes helps to create expressive wines. Joining us in 2015 with more than 20 years experience, Caroline brings a breadth of knowledge and wonderful sense of humour to the winemaking team.

She is now focused on the future of our vineyard, having already designed our urban winery and created Scoperta — a new range of small batch Zonzo wines.

Phil Chapman, Viticulturist

After working a short time in vineyards, Phil realised he wanted to do it forever. The connection of land with seasons, fresh air, sunlight and being hands on — all of it called to him.

Since completing a degree in viticulture, Phil oversaw 25 vintages in Yarra Valley and joined Zonzo in 2020. His approach to vineyard regeneration complements Caroline’s instinctive winemaking: improving soil health by increasing biodiversity and aiding a balanced ecosystem, reducing the need for chemical intervention (and encouraging natural pest predators). In plain terms, Phil works with nature to create deliciousness.

He’s excited to transform and expand Zonzo’s vineyard, helping us produce outstanding and distinctive wine far into the future.

Zonzo Phil
Zonzo Caroline Vines
We’re listening to the land and adapting our vineyards to climate change
2020 harvest of Pinot Gris/Grigio, used in our Estate and Scoperta ranges.
Zonzo Discarded Vines
Goodbye Cabernet and hello Pinot. A traditional, cooler climate wine makes way for a warmer weather variety.
Zonzo dawn.
First day of harvest, March 2020.
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