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LOCATION
The Millstream and Manilla vineyards are located at Neerim South, approx 100 km east of Melbourne, in the Gippsland region. This part of West Gippsland is elevated, cool and has fertile soils. It has a reliable summer rainfall making the area ideal for dairy farming as well as fruit and vegetable growing. The regular rainfall means irrigation is not required for grape growing.
 HISTORY
The Millstream vineyard was first planted in 1983 and the Manilla vineyard in 1994. A winery was established in 1991.
GRAPEGROWING
The vineyards are hand pruned and hand picked to ensure maximum fruit quality. Irrigation is not used allowing natural seasonal variation to be expressed in the fruit. The vineyard is planted to the following grape varieties:
WHITE GRAPES : Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
RED GRAPES : Pinot Noir, Cabernets (Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot) These are predominantly early ripening varieties selected for this cooler area. The slow ripening conditions produce fruit with intense varietal flavour. Crop yields are below average Australian levels in order to maximise fruit flavour.
 Clones planted are as follows:
Chardonnay = Penfolds 58, I10V1, I10V3, 76
Pinot Gris = D1V7
Gewurztraminer = T6
Pinot Noir = MV 6, D5V12, D2V6, G5V15, 114, 115
Cab Sauv = mainly 125 with some G9V3
Merlot = D3V14
Cab Franc = C7V15
In response to current market conditions we are progressively changing our trellis system from Scott-Henry to VSP and converting from cane pruning to spur pruning.
WINEMAKING
The handmade approach to Ada River wines continues in the winery where mechanisation has been kept to a minimum. Individual batches of red grapes are crushed and fermented in small tanks before pressing in a basket press. They then spend 12 months in oak barrels ranging in age from new to four years old. The Chardonnay grapes are crushed and pressed with some fermentation in stainless steel and some barrel fermentation. The other whites undergo cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks.
THE WINES
The slow ripening and low crop levels in the Gippsland vineyards result in wines that are elegant, have intense varietal fruit flavours and a natural cleansing acidity. Subtle use of oak allows full expression of the fruit flavours. These elegant, medium bodied wines match food very well.
adariver@dcsi.net.au
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