2026 Bloody Hill Villages Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

Bloody Hill Villages has its origins as a more affordable lineup wines from German-born winemaker Timo Mayer’s eponymous Yarra Valley brand.

Timo and his partner Rhonda Ferguson’s son Rivar Ferguson-Meyer has now taken the lead for Bloody Hill Villages. The overarching idea of presenting affordable, fruit-forward and ready-on-release Yarra Valley wines remains, while he’s increasingly shining light on the subregional differences within the region.

The fruit is mainly sourced from contract growers, but recent dedicated plantings at his parents’ estate at Mount Toolebewong will give him steady access to home-grown fruit in the future.

The grapes for this wine were sourced from Mendoza-clone Chardonnay vines in Coldstream. The fruit was whole bunch pressed and fermented in well-seasoned oak barrels with no malolactic conversion.

This style of Chardonnay offers vivid aromatics, precise acidity and a saline backbone. Bright and zesty, it leans towards floral citrus and green apples rather than ripe peach and nectarine.

This would sit well with light, clean flavours that appreciate its freshness: grilled scallops, whiting and similar delicate seafood, or maybe some kingfish sashimi.