Sutton Grange Winery

Sutton Grange, a 400ha property, in the foothills of Leanganook near Harcourt, combines a horse training facility with grape growing and winemaking. This multi-functional enterprise was acquired in '96 by Peter Sidwell, a Melbourne businessman with horse racing and breeding interests. The wine side of the business dates back to ’98 and a chance lunch at the property with modern-day Bendigo wine pioneer, Stuart Anderson (founder of Balgownie) and local winemaker, Alec Epis. Vines went in soon after, with Stuart Anderson’s Burgundy-born son-in-law, Gilles Lapalus, installed as winemaker in ’01. He introduced biodynamics to the property and planted Italian varieties suited to a changing climate. The experienced wine-making hand of Melanie Chester (ex Seppelt) from ‘15 took the Sutton Grange name to greater heights. In ’22 Mel passed the baton to Chris Smailes (ex Blue Pyrenees Estate). -JENI PORT