Region: Yarra Valley
Sub Region: Tarrawarra
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2025
The Wine
Tarraford has long been one of the foundation vineyards of Giant Steps’ Single Vineyard program. Planted in 1988 and sitting at around 100 metres in Tarrawarra, it occupies a protected valley that is noticeably cooler than its position in the warmer central Yarra might suggest. The 8.5-hectare vineyard lies on grey clay loam, with Chardonnay planted across south- and east-facing slopes.
The cooler south-facing block carries P58, 548 and 96 clones, while the east-facing vines receive gentler morning sun and are typically picked later. Tarraford consequently tends to produce the broadest and most textural Chardonnay in the Giant Steps single-vineyard collection: white peach and citrus rather than austerity, with a distinctive savoury, saline edge.
The 2025 season began with a wet winter that replenished soil moisture before a warm, dry spring brought an early start to the growing season. Harvest ultimately arrived earlier and faster than usual, giving concentrated fruit while retaining the natural acidity that has kept the best 2025 Giant Steps wines beautifully composed.
Fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, with juice transferred by gravity to barrel without settling and fermented on full solids. The 2025 incorporated 18% malolactic fermentation and an interesting 21% ceramic egg component, with the balance matured in 500-litre French oak puncheons. Nine months of élevage and approximately 31% new oak give Tarraford its characteristic creaminess and breadth without obscuring the vineyard’s saline line.
Cellared Says
Tarraford is the Chardonnay in this release I’d choose for drinking earlier. It’s broader and richer than Applejack or Bastard Hill, but there’s still plenty of acidity and saline detail keeping it sharp. The extra texture in 2025 makes it particularly appealing straight out of the gate, while there is enough structure to comfortably cellar it for another five or six years.
Reviews
“There’s a gentle creaminess on the nose combined with white peach and grilled hazelnuts.”
96 Points – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
“It has an inherent and up-front generosity but it’s oh so stylish from the mid-palate onwards.”
95 Points – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Region: Yarra Valley
Sub Region: Tarrawarra
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2025
The Wine
Tarraford has long been one of the foundation vineyards of Giant Steps’ Single Vineyard program. Planted in 1988 and sitting at around 100 metres in Tarrawarra, it occupies a protected valley that is noticeably cooler than its position in the warmer central Yarra might suggest. The 8.5-hectare vineyard lies on grey clay loam, with Chardonnay planted across south- and east-facing slopes.
The cooler south-facing block carries P58, 548 and 96 clones, while the east-facing vines receive gentler morning sun and are typically picked later. Tarraford consequently tends to produce the broadest and most textural Chardonnay in the Giant Steps single-vineyard collection: white peach and citrus rather than austerity, with a distinctive savoury, saline edge.
The 2025 season began with a wet winter that replenished soil moisture before a warm, dry spring brought an early start to the growing season. Harvest ultimately arrived earlier and faster than usual, giving concentrated fruit while retaining the natural acidity that has kept the best 2025 Giant Steps wines beautifully composed.
Fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, with juice transferred by gravity to barrel without settling and fermented on full solids. The 2025 incorporated 18% malolactic fermentation and an interesting 21% ceramic egg component, with the balance matured in 500-litre French oak puncheons. Nine months of élevage and approximately 31% new oak give Tarraford its characteristic creaminess and breadth without obscuring the vineyard’s saline line.
Cellared Says
Tarraford is the Chardonnay in this release I’d choose for drinking earlier. It’s broader and richer than Applejack or Bastard Hill, but there’s still plenty of acidity and saline detail keeping it sharp. The extra texture in 2025 makes it particularly appealing straight out of the gate, while there is enough structure to comfortably cellar it for another five or six years.
Reviews
“There’s a gentle creaminess on the nose combined with white peach and grilled hazelnuts.”
96 Points – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
“It has an inherent and up-front generosity but it’s oh so stylish from the mid-palate onwards.”
95 Points – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
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