Serengale Vineyard

About

Serengale Vineyard is a boutique winery established in 1999 nestled at the base of the Victorian Alps in the independent wine region of Beechworth. We grow Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz producing distinctive wines characteristic of the region crafted from our carefully tended vineyard. Our strong belief is in the Beechworth region with fruit that can deliver full bodied yet elegant wines that are also great for cellaring. The moderating effects of the cool climate combined with unique granite soils and wet and cold winters, provide ideal growing conditions for wine grapes that are both elegant and robust. With north facing and south facing slopes, ancient granite soils, a mild climate and situated alongside such neighbours as Giaconda, Savaterre and Castagna this is indeed the perfect site to produce high quality wines that illustrate the terroir.

Additional Information

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Winemaker

Gayle grew up on farms in North East Victoria where her family has well established agricultural roots. Her first job out of school was with Lindeman's wines in Rutherglen and since then has held a variety of roles in the wine industry with her last role as Operations Manager at Brown Brothers before leaving to be the winemaker at Serengale Vineyard.

Gayle is hands on in the winery and the vineyard. Before owning and operating Serengale Vineyard, Gayle used to enjoy golfing, bushwalking and fishing.

History

Gayle Taylor and Serena Abbinga founded Serengale Vineyard in 1999 with the goal of producing the best grapes for making into premium wines. Gayle had worked in the wine industry for over 20 years and was partnered by Serena, who was seeking to return to North East Victoria after many years of living and working in inner city Melbourne.

The two realised that their likeminded attitude and passion for wine and the country would make for an outstanding partnership. They searched for over three years for a suitable site across Victoria before finding 60 acres at the foothills of the Victorian Alps in the Everton Hills alongside such neighbours as Giaconda, Savaterre, Battely and Castagna.

In the early years they concentrated on producing premium grapes. The first vintage of Serengale Analisse Chardonnay was produced in 2007. The vineyard continues to produce high quality grapes that are vinified on the property for our Analisse and Serengale range with any excess grapes purchased by such wineries as Giaconda, Savaterre, Haldon Estate and other boutique wineries in the Beechworth area. The new winery is scheduled to be completed by June 2015 in time for the next harvest.

The Team

Jezebel joined the partnership in 2011. Her role is to monitor all operations in the vineyard and winery. Before joining Serengale Vineyard she was wandering the streets of Albury-Wodonga as a lost dog and now enjoys lying in the sun, being patted by everyone and generally having a good time.

Serena grew up in a small country town in North East Victoria. She left to go to University and study commerce after which she established her own consultancy and spent the next twenty years in inner city Melbourne or living out of a suitcase. She craved to go back to the country and do something that involved nature and her passion for wine and food.

Serena is hands on in the vineyard and the commercial side of the business. Before owning and operating Serengale Vineyard, Serena used to enjoy riding her horses, gardening and bush walking.

Estate Vineyards / AVA

We are a small specialised vineyard with 8 hectares under vine. The vines are planted in north east facing slopes at an altitude of 320 meters above sea level. The unique ancient soil of the vineyard is made up of decomposed granite, loam and clay. The soil is not too rich and provides good drainage, minerals and effective moisture retention during the summer months.

The vines are closely monitored with Gayle or Serena working out in the vineyard each day. Integrated pest management is practiced at the vineyard and the vines are irrigated sparingly using drip irrigation with a Smart Dyson trellis system providing a shady canopy to shield the grapes from the heat in summer. This type of management allows the sugars to develop harmoniously with its concentration and physiological ripeness developing complexity ensuring the grapes develop their full flavour showcasing the terroir.

With warm sunny days, cool nights and a constant light breeze assisting in the slow ripening of the grapes, vintage occurs from late February through to mid April depending on the variety and the season. The combination of soil, climate and viticulture techniques produces low yielding vines that create fine, concentrated, intense wines.

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Address

1168 Beechworth-Wangaratta Road
Beechworth, Victoria 3678
Australia

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