The Art of Winemaking at Marnong Estate
Winemaker and candidate in the ‘Master of Wine Program’ Alex Beckett heads the winemaking team alongside Vineyard Manager Carl Duncan. Alex’s passion for winemaking began in the Hunter Valley where he sold wine by the glass and bottle at Tyrell’s Cellar Door, eventually leading him to pursue studies in viticulture and oenology at the University of Adelaide.
After working with wine producers in Germany—where his love of Riesling grew—he joined the team at Marnong Estate. Alex and Carl Duncan are committed to sustainability and innovation while preserving tradition to infuse each bottle with the essence of the terroir and the spirit of the land. The Estate’s new and impressive winemaking facility is set to launch in late October 2024.
Spanning 2,750 square metres (110m L x 25m W x 18m H) and with the capacity to process 250 tonnes of wine annually, this milestone marks the beginning of onsite wine processing for the Estate, which already grows 14 grape varietals and has 22 hectares under vine. With some award-winning wines already under their belt, including the 2022 Shiraz which received a Gold, and 2022 Montepulciano and 2022 Fiano, both of which received a Bronze at the 2023 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, the future of Marnong Estate’s winemaking capabilities is exciting for wine enthusiasts around Victoria. Keep an eye out for the light-bodied and perfumed Pinot Noirs, featuring pure strawberry and wild herb flavours by Alex Beckett.