About Mount Monument
Nestled at an impressive altitude of approximately 630m, Mount Monument vineyard offers an unspoiled environment perfect for producing long-lived, complex wines. The vineyard’s rare volcanic silica soils, unique to this region, find exquisite expression in our Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. This distinctive terroir sets the stage for wines that are truly unparalleled.
The visionaries behind Mount Monument
The vineyard is owned by Nonda, Jane, and Elektra Katsalidis. Nonda is a renowned architect, celebrated for iconic structures such as the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), the Eureka Tower, and Australia 108. Their passion for excellence and innovation extends from architecture to viticulture, where they continue to craft remarkable wines that reflect the unique characteristics of Mount Monument.
The Macedon Ranges: a haven for wine enthusiasts
The Macedon Ranges is recognised as the coldest wine-growing area on mainland Australia, attracting wine growers and makers seeking to cultivate exceptional varieties. This region is also one of Australia’s smallest wine regions, producing less than 1,000 tonnes of fruit annually. Approximately 70% of the region’s output is dedicated to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling, known for their elusive and challenging nature. The high elevation, reliable rainfall, and cool climate of the Macedon Ranges create ideal conditions for producing premium wines.
Our wines
Mount Monument proudly offers Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The new terrace vineyard, planted with new clones of Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Nebbiolo, promises an exciting future for our wine portfolio. Additionally, we source fruit from renowned wine growers in Heathcote, located 60km north, to produce Shiraz, Sangiovese, Greco, and Grenache.
Vineyard and wine production
- Pinot Noir: 2.1 acres
- Chardonnay: 2.1 acres
- Riesling: 0.7 acres
Depending on vintage conditions, we produce between 5 to 10 tonnes of fruit annually. The vineyard sits on a rare white basalt mamelon, believed to be only one of three in Australia, alongside Hanging Rock and Mt Camel on top of Mt Macedon. This volcanic soil, although young at 6.25 million years old, imparts unique characteristics to our wines. Our property is situated between 600 to 630 meters above sea level, contributing to the distinctiveness of our terroir.
Viticulture and wine making at Mount Monument
The main vineyard was planted in 1996, with the new terrace vineyard commencing in 2020 for Pinot Noir and in 2021 for Riesling and Nebbiolo. Our viticultural practices incorporate organic principles, focusing on building soil carbon and resilience within the vines. We employ under-vine cultivation, eliminating the need for herbicides, and hand prune the vines using the Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) system. Late spring shoot thinning and de-suckering are also part of our meticulous viticulture practices.
Wine making philosophy
All our wines are crafted using natural yeast and malolactic bugs, without fining or stabilisation. For Macedon fruit, minimal sulphur is the only addition. For Heathcote fruit, we add tartaric acid due to the region’s hot climate, which causes rapid acidity loss during ripening, alongside minimal sulphur. Our oak usage varies with vintage, ensuring the perfect balance for each wine:
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Sangiovese: 12 months in new and used French oak barrels
- Riesling: 4 months in old oak
The proportion of new oak is adjusted annually based on the fruit’s characteristics, with Pinot Noir typically handling the most at approximately 30+%.