Giant Steps Single Vineyard, `Applejack Vineyard` Yarra Valley Chardonnay

Giant Steps was founded by Margaret River native Phil Sexton in 1997. With the help of winemaker Steve Flamsteed, Giant Steps forged a reputation as one of the Yarra Valley’s most exciting producers, crafting cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from single sites. Since Mel Chester joined as Head of Winemaking and Viticulture in 2021, the winery has reached even greater heights. As a result, Giant Steps received the coveted title of ‘Winery of the Year’ in the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, with Campbell Mattinson commenting, “it’s been an outstanding winery for a long time, but the combination of energy and expertise – and no doubt plenty more besides – that winemaker Melanie Chester has brought since she arrived at the winery in November 2021 has frankly been breathtaking.”

Single Vineyard

The Giant Steps Single Vineyard wines are produced from their best sites in great years. Founder Phil Sexton owns the ‘Sexton’ vineyard next to Coldstream Hills and Yarra Yering. This is the heart of the Yarra Valley, where poor soils result in minuscule yields and intense, concentrated wines.

The ‘Applejack’ vineyard is in the Upper Yarra, where soils are generally deep and more volcanic. Yet in the ‘Applejack’ vineyard, the soils comprise grey/brown clay loam, which are ideally suited to quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir since they reduce vine vigour and yields. The vineyard’s elevation is just under 300 metres, but its proximity to dense, temperate forest makes the site significantly cooler than ‘Sexton’.

In 2022, Giant Steps purchased the ‘Bastard Hill’ vineyard in the Upper Yarra Valley. Viticulture legend Ray Guerin planted the steep slopes of this aptly named 13-hectare vineyard to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the 1980s. Originally intended for the production of sparkling wine, the site was quickly recognised for its potential to produce top-quality still wines. It has long been regarded as one of the great Chardonnay sites in Australia and, for many years, was a source for Hardy’s iconic ‘Eileen Hardy’ Chardonnay.

Soils in the ‘Tarraford’ vineyard combine clay, loam and ironstone soils, with vine roots stretching deep to access nutrients and water deep into the soil subsurface. The resulting Chardonnay is highly perfumed, with a characteristic citrus-peel element irrespective of vintage conditions. Planted by Lou Primavera in 2001, the ‘Primavera’ vineyard is 12 hectares of red clay loam facing north/northeast. Giant Steps has a long-standing relationship with the Primavera family, having sourced fruit for their vineyard for years. The red friable soil is critical in shaping the complex structure and pronounced perfume of the ‘Primavera’ vineyard Pinot Noir.

Hailing from Tasmania, rather than the Yarra Valley, the Coal River Valley Pinot Noir offers an interesting point of difference in the Giant Steps’ range. Despite the cool temperatures in the Coal River Valley, the sunlight hours are long and intense, producing a Pinot Noir with depth and precision. Made using the same gentle winemaking approach as the other Single-Vineyard wines, this Pinot Noir impresses for its earthy, crunchy, cool fruit profile and detailed finish.