Woodhaven Vineyard

Woodhaven is the tree-change venture of Lee and Neil Ward, both qualified accountants for 30 years in Melbourne. They spent 2 years looking for a suitable site on the Mornington Peninsula, ultimately finding one high on Red Hill. Bringing the venture to the point of production was a slow and, at times, frustrating business. They decided to be personally responsible for all aspects of grapegrowing and winemaking, relying on the advice readily given to them by their contemporaries at Paradigm Hill, Eldridge Estate, Myrtaceae and Main Ridge. They also decided to grow the vines biodynamically; it took 8 years to produce their first 2 barrels of wine in ’10. In ’13 the 0.8ha each of pinot noir and chardonnay finally produced more than 1 barrel of each wine. -JAMES HALLIDAY