| Character | Climate | Geography |

Character
The original Mount Pleasant vineyard features mature, low-yielding vines and is considered one of Australia’s oldest, premier vineyards in Australia. The rich, heavier soils are the result of volcanic activity millions of years ago … today they are the producer of some of the most regarded Shiraz fruit.

[back to top]

Climate
Seasonally, the region’s climate shifts between Mediterranean conditions found in South Australia (winter rainfall and summer droughts) to the northern Australian climate (summer rain and winter droughts).Of the 787mm annual rainfall, most occurs between October and April. The humidity, the afternoon sea breezes all operate to temper the summer and afford excellent ripening conditions.

[back to top]

Geography
The Old Paddock and Old Hill Vineyard is located in the Lower Hunter Valley which falls within the northern section of the geological province of the Sydney Basin, which is often referred to as the main coal basin of New South Wales. It is dominated by a number of siliceous rocks, including quartose, lithic sandstone, shale, claystone, mudstone and conglomerates. The vineyard enjoys a North-East aspect and, as it is situated at a higher altitude and on the edge of the Brokenback Range, it is afforded shading and protection from strong Westerly winds.

[back to top]