2025 Shadowfax Pinot Gris, Macedon Ranges

Shadowfax Pinot Gris is a beautifully textured and aromatic cool-climate white from Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, a region renowned for its purity, elegance, and freshness. Shadowfax, established in the late 1990s just outside Melbourne, has built a strong reputation for producing wines that reflect the cool, high-altitude sites of the Macedon Ranges. Their Pinot Gris is crafted in a dry, Alsatian-influenced style that combines lifted aromatics with a fine, savoury backbone and impressive depth.

The grapes are sourced from estate and grower vineyards across the Macedon Ranges, where elevations of around 500 metres and a long, cool growing season produce fruit with delicate flavours and crisp acidity. The soils are predominantly volcanic basalt with some clay and gravel, contributing both concentration and a subtle mineral edge. Grapes are hand harvested, whole-bunch pressed, and fermented in stainless steel with a portion undergoing wild fermentation in old French oak barrels. This approach builds texture and complexity while retaining the grape’s natural aromatic lift. The wine then spends a short period on lees to add creaminess without overshadowing its freshness.

In the glass, Shadowfax Pinot Gris is pale straw with green hues. Aromas of nashi pear, white peach, citrus blossom, and subtle spice rise elegantly, underpinned by a hint of flint. The palate is medium bodied and beautifully balanced, with juicy pear and stone fruit flavours supported by vibrant acidity and a gentle, lees-derived texture. A fine mineral thread carries through the long, clean finish, giving the wine both refreshment and sophistication.

This Pinot Gris pairs wonderfully with pan-seared scallops, Thai salads with lime and herbs, creamy pasta with spring vegetables, or grilled prawns. It also complements soft cheeses and antipasti. Best enjoyed within 3 to 5 years of vintage to capture its lively fruit and elegant texture, though it can develop gentle honeyed and savoury notes with short-term cellaring.