About Lyre Bird Hill Wines

Owen and Robyn Schmidt established Lyre Bird Hill Wines in 1986. It is located the Inverloch Road at Koonwarra in South Gippsland, Victoria and once served as a greyhound racing track.

Owen was an accountant in his former life, but the grape beckoned him. Robyn was an expert in catering and hospitality, a profession that fits in admirably with their new venture.

Owen took a course in viticulture with Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga to teach himself the intricacies of the business and began planting three different varieties of vines, a total of a thousand to begin with. This soon increased to six thousand vines, or around five acres. Now he had a commercial amount ready to take on the world.

It was not long before the small collection of farm sheds used as the winery was found to be inadequate and so a 200-square-metre winery was built in time for the 1993 vintage. Next, the added tasting and sales rooms, they obtained their liquor licence in early 1993, and also installed a temperature controlled barrel room, under cover work area and verandah.

They grow three white varietals: Chardonnay, Riesling, and Traminer. Three reds are also grown and they are: Cabernet, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. All are matured and bottled on the estate.

The wine loving public has accepted them with open arms and their wines tend to sell out rather quickly. They have even expanded the vines to 8,500 to try to cope with the demand and also have to source some fruit from other Gippsland and Yarra Valley vineyards to keep up. The have become so good at what they do that they now offer contract winemaking for other wineries in the region.

Lyre Bird Hill Wines have gained a reputation as award-winning winemakers and this can be put down to Owen's considerable experience and understanding of viticulture and wine making in cool climates.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Traminer can be found at their Cellar Door.