Vigneron/Proprietor, Warwick Ross
Warwick Ross established his reputation as a film producer with some of Australia’s most popular and successful feature films and holds an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Melbourne.
While this is an unusual background for a Vigneron, Warwick’s establishment of the Portsea Estate vineyard and label in 2000, in partnership with his sister Caron Wilson-Hawley, was a natural progression for him given his love of Burgundian wines (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), his connection with the beautiful “Tintagel” property and his commitment to the Portsea/Sorrento area. His goal is to produce premium wines from grapes grown exclusively on the estate at Portsea.
Warwick’s family has had strong ties with the Portsea/Sorrento area since the late 1800’s, when his grandfather, Dr. Frederick Kiel, as a young man, travelled regularly by paddle steamer from Melbourne to spend his summers at Sorrento. The Kiel family acquired “Pembroke”, an historic limestone cottage on Melbourne Road, as their summer residence, which remained in the family until the 1970’s.
In 1956, Dr Kiel’s daughter, June, and her husband, Canadian, Ted Ross (Warwick’s mother and father), purchased “Tintagel”, a 40 acre farm fronting the Portsea Ocean Beach with undulating paddocks and sweeping views of tempestuous Bass Strait. The subsequent acquisition of the adjoining 106 acres, in the 60’s, from the Baillieu family, allowed the Ross’s to expand their cattle grazing activities with the introduction of Angus and Hereford herds.
However, in 2000, with Ted’s and June’s retirement from the business, Warwick dedicated the protected north facing paddocks to planting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, based on his knowledge that the unique free draining limestone and calcareous sand that lay beneath the paddocks provided the perfect and highly sought after terroir for producing classic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
The business of Portsea Estate is very much a family affair, with Warwick’s wife, Margot, his sister Caron, her husband Philip and many of Ted’s and June’s grandchildren involved in various aspects of the enterprise, whether planting, pruning, harvesting, design, marketing or sales.
Winemaking/Viticulture, Tim Elphick
Tim’s foray into the wine industry began in the late 1990s with studies in horticulture and practical experience in vine propagation. Vintages worked at Tarrawarra Estate, Yarra Ridge and Domaine Chandon were followed by five years of hands-on involvement at Paringa Estate under the tutelage of master winemaker Lindsay McCall, who inspired a disciplined work ethic and a passion for meticulous vineyard management.
Overseas vintage experience in Italy’s Barolo region and France’s Languedoc-Roussillon added ‘old world’ insight to ‘new world’ technique and this has been further complemented by Wine science and Viticulture studies at Charles Sturt University.
The expertise gained both in Europe and here on the Mornington Peninsula has put Tim at the forefront of Cold Climate winemaking techniques, specialising in varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Winemaking/Viticulture, Chris Catlow
A love and passion for wine was inevitable after growing up in Beechworth, Victoria, surrounded by industry leading winemakers creating inspiring wines.
After a stint working at the iconic Sorrenberg estate in 1999 Chris made the decision to study Wine science and Viticulture at La Trobe University in Melbourne. As part of his studies, Chris worked two vintages at Paringa Estate on the Mornington Peninsula in 2008 and 2009. Lindsay McCall, the highly respected and multi award winning winemaker and owner of Paringa, instilled in Chris the level of commitment expected to produce wines of exceptional quality.
With close friend, Tim Elphick, Chris then travelled to Piedmont, Northern Italy where he completed a vintage in Barolo. It was here that he first experienced the ‘old world’ approaches to making wine. Inspired by the experience, Chris returned to the Mornington Peninsula and, under the guidance of Sandro Mosele of Port Philip Estate, developed a passion for Chardonnay. His work with Sandro rapidly expanded his knowledge of wine and the intricacies involved in making wines that are unique and true to their origins.