Vineyards

The Dominique Portet vineyards are the foundation of the estate’s elegant, cool-climate wines.

The Coldstream vineyard, planted in 2002 beside the winery, is home to Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties, thriving in the lower Yarra’s mild conditions and gravelly soils.

In contrast, the higher-altitude Gladysdale vineyard, established in 2020, sits at 230M metres and is ideally suited to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Both sites are meticulously managed and 100 percent handpicked, allowing each block to express its character. From site to cellar, the focus remains the same; purity, precision and a deep respect for the land.

Coldstream

Located in the heart of the Yarra Valley, Coldstream is one of the region’s most respected subzones. With elevations around 80 to 120 metres and a climate defined by cool nights and warm, dry days, it offers ideal conditions for slow, even ripening. Soils are mostly grey loams over broken down sandstone, providing good water holding capacity and natural vine balance, critical for building flavour and structure.

This landscape of rolling slopes and diverse aspects allows for site-driven wines with clarity and depth. Coldstream’s unique combination of soil, climate and topography continues to shape wines that speak clearly of place.

Aerial view of a vineyard at sunrise, with rows of grapevines, a small pond, green fields, and tree-covered hills in the background under a clear sky.

Gladysdale

Gladysdale lies in the cooler, higher reaches of the Yarra Valley and brings a distinct character to our wines. Elevated sites, often above 220 metres, experience slower ripening, cooler nights and greater diurnal shifts. The soils are primarily red volcanic loams over gravelly clay, well-drained yet moisture-retentive enough to support vine balance through dry periods.

The area is home to some of the valley’s most respected sites. In our hands, Gladysdale fruit brings lift, complexity and longevity to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, producing wines that are both delicate and detailed.

A charming building with arched windows and red ivy on the walls stands behind blooming purple flowers and tall grasses; outdoor seating and umbrellas are visible under a partly cloudy sky.

Dominique Portet

“Together, these sites form the backbone of the wines and the story they tell, carrying the character of the land from year to year.”