Yarra Valley Story

Chandon Australia is nestled in the captivating Yarra Valley, one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious wine regions.

The wine industry began its journey in the region when three brothers: William, James and Donald Ryrie, planted the very first vines in the early 1800s. An illustrious award winning history in the 1800’s, based mainly on exports to Europe, ended with the world economic slow down at the turn of the 19th century.

Later, in the 1960’s, the valley enjoyed a viticultural renaissance with some of Australia’s winemaking icons rediscovering the Yarra Valley, amongst them Mount Mary, Yeringburg, Yarra Yering, Wantirna Estate and St Hubert’s.  Many vineyards have since benefited from the region’s rich loamy soils, gentle fresh breezes, warm afternoon sun and cool nights; a magical combination for making exceptional wine. With its long and illustrious viticultural heritage, the Yarra Valley possessed wine quality credentials that attracted Moët & Chandon and led to the establishment of Chandon in Australia. 

Located at the southern end of the Great Dividing Range, the Yarra Valley offers a rich diversity of terroir varying from the cool valley floor to the colder Upper Yarra Valley slopes.  Our winemakers work with more than a dozen Yarra Valley growers and take advantage of this diversity to craft wines of characteristic Chandon complexity and finesse. 

The ‘Green Point’ vineyard surrounding the winery, at 100 metres above sea level, has a cool terroir due to its latitude and the influence of the southerly weather patterns that move in off the cold Southern Ocean. The ancient sandy clay loam soils provide nutrients and good moisture retention, which is important in our dry summer.