About
Ben Haines is a boutique winemaker in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. He is a bit different from the estate wineries in the Little Peacock portfolio, as his focus is to source grapes from “magic dirt” of different origins year-to-year and season-to-season.
The vineyards he chooses are those possessing great interest, charm and depth, and that capture a sense of mystique. Ben’s base is the Yarra Valley where he has made wine at Yering Station and Mount Langi Ghiran. His own exploration goes far beyond. Having trained in viticulture, he pays close attention to what’s happening in each vineyard throughout the growing season. His wines are intensely textural with flavors continuing to develop sip after sip. Fruit is expressive, structure is present without being constraining.
From around Victoria, Ben has crafted single-vineyard expressions of Rhône varieties in small batches. He also has a series of wines called “B Minor”, including blends that speak to him and his musical background, as well as an undisgorged Blanc de Blanc. Unfined & unfiltered wines that are intended to express, in his words, ‘the vineyard in a glass’.
Ben Haines Yarra Valley Pinot Noir is made with hand-picked grapes from the sustainably-farmed Warramunda vineyard in Coldstream. An elegant style, and a philosophy that is driven by the pursuit for purity and clarity of expression. Light, crunchy, fresh strawberry dusted with pepper and spice. A little sappy and herbal, but the core of bright red fruit is there, a dusting of tannin, crisp and frisky, good length, and no oak influence to speak of. Delightful.