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Hoddles Creek Estate was born in 1997 when the D'Anna family decided to establish a vineyard on the property that has been in the family since 1960. The vineyard sits astride Gembrook road and adjacent Hoddles Creek. Its steeply sloping blocks prohibit mechanical harvesting, with both vineyards being hand pruned and harvested. Hoddles Creek Estate is planted with 10ha of pinot noir (five clones), 5ha of chardonnay, 1ha each of sauvignon blanc, merlot and cabernet sauvignon, and 0.5ha of pinot gris.
All our wines, which are estate grown, are made in our 300 tonne winery, constructed for the 2003 vintage.The split-level winery has a barrel store located three meters underground. There are but four employees that tend the vineyard and 10,000-case winery production.
Franco D’Anna is the viticulturalist and winemaker at Hoddles Creek Estate. At 13, he started to work in the family liquor store. By 21 he was the chief wine buyer while undertaking (and completing) a bachelor of commerce at Melbourne University.
He then turned his attention to Charles Sturt University's viticulture course, while helping to maintain the newly planted vineyard. He attributes his traineeship, at Coldstream Hills, for the rigorous hygiene practices he learnt to be fundamental in the winery. For Hoddles Creek Estates’ first vintages, Franco worked with Peter Dredge of Red Edge, and then in consultation with Mario Marson, (ex-winemaker
for Mount Mary and Jasper Hill).
Hoddles Creek Estate’s hard work was rewarded when the 2003 Chardonnay (which James Halliday awarded 96 points) won trophies for Best Chardonnay and Best White Wine at the 2004 Victorian Wines Show (and another gold medal shortly thereafter at the Royal Hobart Wine Show).
Hoddles Creek Estate
505 Gembrook Road, Hoddles Creek, 3139
Email: hoddles_creek_wine@iprimus.com.au
Tel: 03 5967 4692 Fax: 03 5967 4692