The Gippsland Wine Company is based in the charming town of Loch, in an area known for its rolling hills and gorgeous valleys. The region has maritime influences, dark loams and long cold seasons, making it ideal for producing premium sparkling, chardonnay, fume blanc, viognier, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, rosato and pinot noir.

Founded by Mark Heath in 2010, along with partner Jane Taylor, Gippsland Wine Company has grown to span eight hectares of vines, producing nine varieties of wine annually. The Loch Village Vineyard is home to mature vines planted in 1999, with sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay grapes. To achieve peak fruit quality, the vines are spaced 1.5 metres apart and are traditionally cane pruned.

In addition to Loch Village Vineyard, Mark has coaxed other neglected vineyards back to life, to prevent the land being reverted to grazing pasture. Gippsland Wine Company’s second vineyard, Moyarra Vineyard, has been planted with pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon. The third vineyard is home to Prom Country Cheese, planted with pinot noir and sangiovese. In taking a minimal intervention approach to viticulture, these sites were selected for their microclimates, best suited to the desired varieties.

Gippsland Wine Company’s cellar door is situated on their Loch Village Vineyard, offering spectacular views over the vines to the picturesque Loch Valley. Much of the seating at the cellar door takes advantage of these views, with tables on the verandah and a further section outdoors under shade sails.

The cellar door offers a vast range of providore goods, including local cheeses, charcuterie, bread and gluten-free options. Visitors are welcome to create their own platters to accompany their wine tastings. A range of wine experiences are also available, including guided wine tastings with the winemaker and wine tasting flights.

Gippsland Wine Company enters wine shows each year as a benchmark of quality with its peers. At the last Gippsland Wine Show, the company was awarded numerous medals and trophies for its wines, including a gold medal for its Blanc De Noir, a bronze medal for its Pinot Noir and a gold medal and two trophies for its chardonnay (Chair of Judges and Wines of Provenance).