For its members, Mount Mary’s annual release is one of the most anticipated in the calendar. Since the mid ’70s, the Yarra Valley winery has marked the occasion by opening its doors and throwing a party of sorts for those on its mailing list. Winemaker Sam Middleton opens a few older vintages alongside the new releases, and over a glass and some cheese, members catch up, see how some of the older wines are developing and then, at the end, collect their order.
Winemaker Sam Middleton.
“They’re really fun, enjoyable days for us,” says Sam. “We don’t have a cellar door so it’s the only opportunity that we get to really mingle with our customers and chat with them.