The Rockbank site features rich red volcanic soil over clay loam, interspersed with rocky outcrops. The vineyard is on a north-south axis and the vine trellising uses vertical shoot positioning to increase exposure to sunlight. Planting commenced in 1997 and the vineyard contains smaller blocks of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Merlot. Very special to the winemaking team are the exciting Italian varietals of Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese.

Although only relatively new, Galli Estate wines have already been recognised for quality in Australian wine shows, receiving Gold and Bronze medals for Cabernet Sauvignon, Gold for Pinot Grigio, three Bronze for Shiraz, as well as Bronze for Chardonnay and Sangiovese. Additionally the wines have received favourable reviews from noted Australian wine writers such as James Halliday.

Facilities constructed at Rockbank include the winery, a sales and administration centre and an underground cellar. Fifteen metres wide, six metres high and over 900 square metres in area, the earth covered cellar provides natural temperature and humidity control and houses the many hundreds of French oak barrels used for maturing the wines. The impressive cellar, winery and Cellar Door/ Administration buildings were built on the principles of the ancient arch system, employing steel arches surplus to the construction of the Burnley tunnel in Melbourne's city link project, giving a unique look and feel to the site.

In addition to the development at Rockbank, the Galli family have established a 250 acre vineyard at Heathcote, a Victoria wine region with an enviable reputation for quality, particularly in red wines. Located in Central Victoria about 100 kms north of Melbourne, the Heathcote wine region is classified as warm, and rainfall is limited. The growing season is warm and dry with relatively even temperature ranges during the ripening season. The harvest occurs from mid-March.

Vine planting commenced in 2000 at Galli Estate's Camelback vineyard, situated just north east of the Heathcote township. In keeping with the region's demonstrated specialty, the property is planted predominantly to Shiraz. Excellent results have also been achieved with Cabernet Sauvignon, and with an elegant, delicate Chardonnay. Since the inaugural 2004 vintage, all Heathcote fruit was immediately transported back to the Rockbank site for winemaking. "Galli Estate may be a newcomer to the scene, but it is a substantial one. A large underground cellar has been constructed. A cellar door sales, bistro and administration centre, with former Coldstream Hills winemaker Stephen Phillips in charge. The quality is as high as the prices are low!" -James Halliday

Neil Paulett graduated from the Roseworthy Oenology course in 1971 and began working as a winemaker for Penfolds Wines in Sydney and then Rosemount in the Hunter Valley. With 10 years wine making experience behind him, Neil and wife Alison began their search for the place to establish their own family vineyard. After discovering the Clare Valley in 1981, they set about protracted negotiations to purchase what is now their property. The property had remained in the same family's hands from the 1860's until its purchase in 1983 and has a long history of vineyard production with vines being present for well over 100 years.

The property has expanded from the initial 47 hectares to 147 hectares and the on-going vineyard development now sees 25 hectares under vine. There is a substantial portion of Shiraz and Cabernet vines over 70 years of age and Riesling of 35 years and this their treasured resource makes up the back bone of the super premium red and white, the Andreas Shiraz and Antonina Riesling (Shiraz is only produced in the best years) after these original settler family members. This connection with the past is felt very strongly and Neil and Alison understand and embrace the challenge of being custodians of the land for future generations.

In 2004 Pauletts celebrated the 21st Anniversary of operating their cellar door and receiving a producer's licence. The cellar door has become one of the 'must see' places in the Clare Valley, often described as having the most spectacular view from any cellar door in the country. "Twenty years ago, visiting a cellar door was not as common as now and we felt we had to offer that extra inducement to bring people to the Valley. Now it's just considered all part of the package, a welcoming cellar door, the premium wines and the spectacular views all enhance the sense of well-being that wine lovers have come to expect from Paulett's Winery" said Neil.

The range of wines produced has grown over the years in much the same way as Neil and Alison's interest in different varieties and wine styles. In addition to the staples of Shiraz and Riesling there is, a Late Harvest Riesling, Trillians Sparkling Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet & Malbec blend and a Cabernet Merlot. The constant refinement and attention to detail has led to the very high quality across this significant body of work.

Since the first vintage in 1983 there have been many accolades received from within Australia and internationally including the great 1995 vintage winning both the Top Riesling at the Hyatt/Advertiser awards and Best Riesling in the Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide. The 2003 was included in Phillip White's Top 100 Australian Wines scoring 93 points. When asked about these accolades Neil said "This kind of recognition against all-comers is particularly rewarding however there is just as much of a thrill walking into a restaurant seeing people enjoying a bottle of our wine".

While the winemaking at Mudhouse is firmly anchored in the world of microdetail, the team don’t tell tales of pampered grapes, brix levels and the size of the stones beneath the vines. Just take their word for it that they go to extraordinary lengths to get it right every time. When all is said and done, what’s is the only story that matters. When you take the first sip of Mudhouse, it just may bring a smile to your lips. No amount of pontificating about winemaking can say as much as that magical moment.

The superbly pungent and invigorating fruit flavours of Mudhouse Marlborough sauvignon blanc immediately caught the attention of international wine commentators and consumers. Due in no small part to the superlative growing conditions on the estate's Marlborouigh Vineyard at Delta Lake Heights near Renwick in the Upper Wairau Valley, the site is 250 acres of the best fruit growing terrain, clay and loam soils which are planted to Sauvignon Blanc and some Pinot Gris.

Aromatic varietals such as riesling and pinot gris thrive on the Glasnevin Vineyard, just behind the Mudhouse wineworks on State highway 1 in the Waipara Hills. This very special winegrowing region also makes spicy, deliciously rich, well rounded pinot noirs. Shelter provided by the coastal hills to the east is an important feature of Waipara’s grape-growing environment, giving harvest dates 10 days to two weeks earlier than on the Canterbury Plains. Hot nor’westers dry out the soil, taking some of the vigour out of the vines which encourages the development of full ripeness and intensity. Soil types range from gravelly deposits close to the Waipara River, to heavier, limestone-derived clays on the east side of the valley.

Central Otago is famous for vibrant, full-flavoured pinot noir with spicy, cherry-like flavours and a velvety smooth texture. There are few places in the world around the 45-degree latitudes, north or south, with such ideal climate and soil conditions for pinot noir. That’s why Mudhouse are here. Hot summers, cold winters and enormous temperature extremes between day and night create the intense flavours and colour. The vvineyards here have stony sub-soils, with good water drainage, helping to promote ripe, intense, aromatic characters in the finished wine.

Within the family you will discover three labels, Mudhouse, Swan and Hay Maker. At the top end is the elite Swan label, each wine within this range offers small parcel reserve quality. The philosophy is to nurture the grape from vine to wine with as little interference as possible ensuring pure varietal character and flavour. Every year the Mudhouse oenological crew are on the search for the best parcels of fruit they can find, with the intention of crafting a wine good enough to hold the Swan label. Wines branded plainly as Mudhouse represent 90% of total production, they absorb the energy, passion and unflinching devotion to good winemaking. By using a combination of contemporary and traditional methods, Mudhouse are able to meet market demand without sacrificing quality. Every bottle goes out into the world as a highly qualified ambassador for premium New Zealand wine.

As the old hay shed from the dairy days was a local landmark, the Morrison’s used this to create the new name for the property, Hay Shed Hill. Tools found in the hay shed provided them with the inspiration for Hay Shed’s sister label – Pitchfork Wines. In 1992 the winery was redesigned by a local architect to complement the existing house and hay shed. The effect is a visually stunning structure, which complements the existing buildings and is both striking and charming when viewed upon approach to the winery.

The Morrison’s owned the property for 11 years until 2000 when they sold to a wine investment group based in New South Wales. In 2002 the property and business was sold to Australian Wine Holdings Limited. The current winemakers bought back the farm in late 2006 and began the revival of this great vineyard and wine brand commencing with major vineyard investment and the re-design and renewal of the wine branding and labels.

Michael Kerrigan, formally the Chief Winemaker of Howard Park and MadFish Wines for the previous 12 years and a small group of partners took over the Hay Shed Hill vineyard and brands just before Christmas 2006. He was familiar with the Hay Shed Hill vineyard and its potential. He could not pass up an opportunity to be part of such an exciting winery that is producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon wines as good as or better than any wine producer in Margaret River – and that means world class wine.

Hay Shed Hill vineyard has the mission of producing world class wines that reflect the place of their origin; wines of depth and flavour that are true to region and true to the vineyard. Small, old, hands-on vineyards and wineries like Hay Shed Hill need to be owned and run by winemakers and grape growers; people who are attached to the land and the place and wish to express its character through the wine. In the end corporations shouldn’t run boutique wine businesses.

What makes a good vineyard? If you want to make good wine you need to start with good fruit from a good vineyard. Winemakers have bought back the farm. A good vineyard has all the attributes of regional climate, in Hay Shed Hill's case the kind maritime conditions of the southwest Cape of Western Australia with its mild temperatures and dry summers – remarkably similar to the conditions of Bordeaux. Good soil, well drained gravelly loams. But most important are the individual site characteristics which have a major influence on the weather and local climate experienced by the vines. The Hay Shed Hill site is hilly with wonderful north facing slopes giving maximum sun light to the Cabernet Sauvignon and south facing slopes reducing the heat load on the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The property is an outstanding site combining the attributes of fully mature vines with distinctive soil type and the mild weather conditions of the area to produce some of the best fruit from the region. The right varieties planted to the right slopes.