Region: Victoria
Sub Region: Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2024
The Wine
Main Ridge is the coolest and highest part of the Mornington Peninsula, a region where Chardonnay develops slowly, retaining natural acidity and remarkable finesse. Southern Light Vineyards is a tiny family-owned estate focused exclusively on expressing this exceptional cool-climate terroir. Production is deliberately small, with meticulous attention paid to every parcel from vineyard through to bottle.
The Ghostgum Chardonnay is sourced from mature vines rooted in the red volcanic and basalt-derived soils that define Main Ridge. Sitting at over 250 metres above sea level and heavily influenced by Bass Strait, the vineyard enjoys one of Australia's longest growing seasons. Slow ripening allows flavour to develop gradually while preserving the vibrant acidity and mineral tension that distinguish the finest Mornington Chardonnay.
Fruit is hand harvested in the cool of morning before whole-bunch pressing. Fermentation takes place naturally in French oak barriques, followed by extended maturation on fine lees with minimal bâtonnage to build texture without sacrificing precision. The restrained use of oak allows the vineyard to remain the focus, delivering a wine that balances citrus purity, white stone fruit and a distinctive chalky mineral line.
Produced in tiny quantities, Ghostgum remains one of Mornington's best-kept secrets. It's exactly the sort of under-the-radar Chardonnay that consistently outperforms its profile, offering outstanding value against many of the Peninsula's more established names.
Cellared Says
This is a wine that completely flew under my radar until I tasted it. It has everything I look for in modern Australian Chardonnay—energy, restraint and a wonderful mineral backbone—without relying on overt oak or richness. Given the tiny production and quality in the glass, I suspect it won't stay a secret for much longer.
Reviews
"The palate is textured and chalky, with a very fine thread of acidity running through the wine. Will age gracefully over the next five to eight years."
96+ Points – Phillip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
Region: Victoria
Sub Region: Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2024
The Wine
Main Ridge is the coolest and highest part of the Mornington Peninsula, a region where Chardonnay develops slowly, retaining natural acidity and remarkable finesse. Southern Light Vineyards is a tiny family-owned estate focused exclusively on expressing this exceptional cool-climate terroir. Production is deliberately small, with meticulous attention paid to every parcel from vineyard through to bottle.
The Ghostgum Chardonnay is sourced from mature vines rooted in the red volcanic and basalt-derived soils that define Main Ridge. Sitting at over 250 metres above sea level and heavily influenced by Bass Strait, the vineyard enjoys one of Australia's longest growing seasons. Slow ripening allows flavour to develop gradually while preserving the vibrant acidity and mineral tension that distinguish the finest Mornington Chardonnay.
Fruit is hand harvested in the cool of morning before whole-bunch pressing. Fermentation takes place naturally in French oak barriques, followed by extended maturation on fine lees with minimal bâtonnage to build texture without sacrificing precision. The restrained use of oak allows the vineyard to remain the focus, delivering a wine that balances citrus purity, white stone fruit and a distinctive chalky mineral line.
Produced in tiny quantities, Ghostgum remains one of Mornington's best-kept secrets. It's exactly the sort of under-the-radar Chardonnay that consistently outperforms its profile, offering outstanding value against many of the Peninsula's more established names.
Cellared Says
This is a wine that completely flew under my radar until I tasted it. It has everything I look for in modern Australian Chardonnay—energy, restraint and a wonderful mineral backbone—without relying on overt oak or richness. Given the tiny production and quality in the glass, I suspect it won't stay a secret for much longer.
Reviews
"The palate is textured and chalky, with a very fine thread of acidity running through the wine. Will age gracefully over the next five to eight years."
96+ Points – Phillip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
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