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 winemaking hand of Melanie Chester (ex Seppelt) from ‘15 took the Sutton Grange name to greater heights. In ’22 Mel passed the baton to Chris Smales (ex Blue Pyrenees Estate). -JENI PORT