About Golden Ball

The Golden Ball vineyard can be found on the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, Beechworth, Victoria. The area is steeped in history as a gold mining region and also for The Golden Ball hotel, which was a stopping off point for early travellers on their way up the steep climb to the goldfields. Its other unofficial name was the Honeymooners Inn. The original three stone rooms are used as part of the modern-day premises.

There have been many owners of The Golden Ball over the years, but it has always retained its historical importance and significance to the area.

Janine and James McLaurin bought the property in 1980, but their vines were not planted until 1996. But now that they have established the vineyard they take great pride in creating high quality wines made from their own grapes.

Still set alongside the picturesque weeping willows lining the nearby creek, The Golden Ball remains a constant reminder of the colourful history of the region.

There are five acres planted to vine, which includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. They also have a small parcel set aside for Grenache and Malbec.

The combination of a cool climate and granitic soils give up low yields, but the fruit it produces in intense in flavour and complex. The result is that their wines are of excellent quality and reflect the subtle nuances of the region.

They do not use insecticides on the vines, but use a low grade spraying programme. The grapes are hand-picked and crushed in the winery and then fermented for 12-16 days, after which the young wine, with all its skins and seeds and stems, are basket-pressed before being put into a selection of Bordeaux and Burgundy barrels.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot and Shiraz are the wines that are available at their Cellar Door.