For some time now Giant Steps has been one of the biggest names in Australia's Yarra Valley and has built a formidable reputation for single-vineyard chardonnay and pinot noir. Since the arrival of Melanie Chester into the chief winemaker role just a few years ago, it feels like things have gone up a gear. This is now one of the most exciting wineries anywhere in Australia, with the accolades to show for it, including being named Winery of the Year in the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion.
These wines now feel more transparent, more site-specific and more complete than ever before. Each vineyard is clearly visible in the bottle of its resulting wine, which captures the magic and unique nature of the site. The 2025 vintage has only reinforced what is so exciting about this great estate, and it’s a pleasure to offer these wines to members. The selection spans their standard chardonnay and pinot bottlings – offered at truly exceptional prices – through to their sought-after single-vineyard wines.
Order by midday on Friday 17th July
This is a vintage which combines generosity with precision. Following healthy rainfall in previous seasons, vineyards entered the growing season in exceptional condition. A warm, dry spring and summer accelerated ripening and led to a particularly early harvest, with all of the chardonnay and pinot noir safely in the winery by the end of February. While the pace of the harvest kept everyone on their toes, the resulting wines are outstanding.
The chardonnays have an alluring weight of fruit, but retain tension, freshness and mineral drive. The pinot noirs are wonderfully aromatic and seductive, with plenty of concentration but also the energy and vineyard expression which has become a hallmark of Giant Steps under Chester's leadership.
What continues to excite me most is just how clearly each wine reflects its origin. These are not wines where the winemaking is doing the talking. Rather, they are wines which capture the personality of some of the Yarra Valley's greatest vineyard sites in a pure and beautifully crafted way.
The quantities of the single-vineyard wines remain relatively small and demand for them continues to grow, both in Australia and internationally. The Circle of Fifths wines are a superb blend from across the single vineyard sites, which offer a great taste of the winery’s quality and house style. If you are unsure where to start, the mixed cases are a great option.
