Since 1970, Skillogalee – or Skilly, as it is endearingly known – has been committed to the art of authentic, hand-crafted winemaking, producing acclaimed wines that truly embody the unique terroir of our high-elevation, hillside vineyards. Our home in the eponymous Skilly Valley is a remarkable single estate property, embraced by the pristine natural beauty and rich biodiversity of the Spring Gully Conservation Park.
Our single estate, which began as a small vineyard over 50 years ago, has now expanded to encompass around 55 hectares of vineyards on a 170-hectare (420-acre) estate. This picturesque property is surrounded by rolling hills and vast natural bushland teeming with native wildlife. We cultivate a variety of grape varieties, including Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, and Muscat. Remaining family-owned, our vineyard is driven by our passion for producing high-quality wine that showcases its natural terroir. Grown sustainably and carefully managed, our grapes yield full-flavoured wines that have won numerous awards both in Australia and internationally.
Our vines are hand-pruned, and the majority of the fruit is hand-picked. Despite extremely low yields, the vineyard produces intensely flavoured and aromatic wines, as well as deeply coloured reds. Kangaroos are frequent visitors, especially during the vintage season when the hills are dry and brown. They can often be found camping in the vineyards and feasting on the juicy fruit.
At Skillogalee, we pride ourselves on our small-scale, modern winery that crushes only around 250 tonnes of grapes per vintage. This allows us to handcraft artisanal wines in small batches using both traditional and modern techniques for fruit handling and fermentation.
To preserve the delicate fruit aromas and flavours of our white wines, we use modern winemaking techniques. For our reds, we utilise more traditional methods such as open fermenters and a basket press to maximise flavour and colour without over-extraction. Throughout the winemaking process, we place a strong emphasis on gentle fruit handling and meticulous winery hygiene programs. By doing so, we’re able to use minimal amounts of sulphur to keep our wines free from spoilage, resulting in truly exceptional wines.
https://www.skillogalee.com.au/