South Channel Wines

Leading Melbourne orthopaedic surgeon David Booth has planted just over 4ha of pinot noir, pinot gris and shiraz on a large property situated on warm, northern slopes overlooking Dromana and the busy South Channel leading to the port of Melbourne. ‘At times,' says David Booth, ‘the big ships seem to appear in the vineyard.' Other varieties are being trialled in a nursery section, and the range of wines may increase somewhere down the track. The prices of the wines are decidedly enticing by any standards, let alone those of the Mornington Peninsula. -JAMES HALLIDAY