This is the story of how one man’s hobby – to make wine for his family and friends – became a catalyst to the re-establishment of the viticulture industry on the Mornington Peninsula.

The man is Baillieu Myer and his property, Elgee Park, is the oldest vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula. It is also, still to this day, a substantial farming property, which embraces cattle grazing and the Yulgilbar Quarter Horse Stud. The latter is the home of Playboy Roy (Imp), the sire of some of Australia’s most successful quarter horses.

In the early 1970s, Baillieu Myer (known as ‘Bails’) was President of the French Chamber of Commerce and one of the founders of the great Burgundian Confrerie des chevalliers de Tastevin in Australia.

“We were entertaining a visiting French delegation from Bordeaux on the property,” said Bails. “We looked out across the hills and my guests, including David Wynn, suggested to me that I should plant wine grapes. Fortified by a good lunch I thought ‘why not?’”

In 1972 Baillieu Myer, acquired and planted 400 cuttings that became the first vines of the modern era on the Mornington Peninsula. The initial planting comprised the principal red varieties of Bordeaux and some riesling. It was not long after this that some other 20th Century pioneers, each with their own special passion, began planting pinot noir and other varieties on the Mornington Peninsula.

The first Elgee Park wines were made in 1975 by Ian Hickinbotham, and his late son Stephen. In 1984 Elgee Park became one of the first self-contained wineries on the Mornington Peninsula. It was also the first winery on the Peninsula to release wine in magnums. The first meeting of the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association was held at Elgee Park, and the first Stonier wines were made at Elgee Park’s winery.

Meanwhile, Bails was still enjoying and expanding his hobby.

“By 1988 I decided I needed pinot noir,” said Bails. “All the way through I thought, Elgee Park has to be different. As a result our first Cuvee Brut was released in 1992.”

Elgee Park thus became a pioneer of several plantings, including pinot gris and viognier. The process of experimentation also saw traminer and sauvignon blanc tried in the vineyard, but these were unsuccessful.

“Initially the vineyard was established to provide wine for my family and friends,” says Bails. “That theory has never changed, except that now we produce 1600 cases of premium wine annually which are available for sale to selected restaurants and wine outlets, and through our Cellar Club.”

Today, the 4.5 hectares under vine comprise riesling, chardonnay, viognier, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot and small plantings of pinot gris and shiraz.

Elgee Park Wines have also found success overseas, much to the amusement of Bails.

“Over the past 30 years Elgee Park has done little to pursue export sales of its wine, other than to Queenscliff and to an exclusive clientele on Turtle Island. However, we are pleased to announce that because of a family connection, Elgee Park wines are currently being enjoyed at some of Tokyo’s best restaurants.”

For further information contact the winery
on 03-5989 7338