Our Wines
Trofeo’s wines are produced from fruit that has been exclusively handpicked and tendered from our Mornington Peninsula vineyards, where we grow cool climate varieties including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, adopting organic and biodynamic viticulture principles. Our wines are also 100% vegan friendly. We specialise in wines fermented and or aged in Terracotta Amphora, instead of oak barrels, an ancient winemaking method dating back more than 6,000 years.
Terracotta Amphorae
We import Artenova Terracotta Amphorae directly from Chianti in Italy, where the amphorae are hand crafted from the ancient clay of the region. The terracotta does not impart any flavour influence on the wine, resulting in wines that are elegant and soft, reflecting the natural flavours and aromas of the grapes. Terracotta amphorae winemaking techniques are known to produce delicious wines full of pure fruit expression, and subtle complex aromas and varietal character.
Terracotta is an inorganic medium that does not harbour spoilage microorganisms, reducing the level of sulphur required to preserve the wine. Terracotta ‘breathes’ allowing micro oxygenation of the wine, this assists in developing palate and mouthfeel, whilst amplifying aromatics and flavours. Join us for a wine tasting and experience the terracotta difference.
Discover The Purity Of Trofeo Terracotta Wine
We craft wines with minimal intervention, using ancient terracotta methods blended with modern influences that let the natural flavours shine. Free from oak, reduced sulphur, and without inorganic chemicals, our wines offer a pure, authentic taste that reflects our commitment to quality and tradition.
Trofeo Estate has been crafting extraordinary wines for over fourteen years.
Nestled in the Tuerong Valley, our Estate benefits from a marine micro-climate allowing the combination of traditional winemaking techniques with innovative practices, producing wines that express the true character of our vineyards. We focus on sustainability, with every bottle telling a story of craftsmanship and passion.
No Oak
Trofeo Terracotta Wines contain no Furfurals, a class of chemicals that leach out of Oak barrels in the presence of alcohol (as in wine). Furfurals cannot be metabolised by the human body and thus may build up in humans over time, eventually they reach a point where if you continue to consume them they could become toxic.
Less Sulphur
Trofeo Terracotta Wines generally contain less Sulphur than wooded wines -in some cases, much less. The inorganic terracotta does not harbour spoilage agents because the clay the Amphorae are made from contains traces of aluminium, a natural anti-spoilage agent. Unlike wooden barrels, Amphorae are inorganic; they impart no flavour on the wine and do not harbour spoilage agents, thus much less unbound Sulphur is needed to prevent the wine from deteriorating.
Organic Principals
We use a blend of organic and biodynamic principles in our vineyards to optimise vine health and our soil biome. Through autumn and winter, we use sheep as mowers, they do an excellent job of manicuring the grass in the vineyard, as well as creating tonnes of compost. Cover crops (plants like peas and wild grains) are sown between the vine rows to improve nitrogen fixing in the soil. In summary, there is nothing unnatural in our wines, and we believe you can taste and feel the subtle and delightful differences this brings.
Vegan Friendly
Trofeo Terracotta Wines are Vegan and thus have no added animal proteins to clarify the wine (such as egg white albumin or milk solids), which can cause allergic reactions. Where possible, Trofeo Terracotta Wines are not even filtered, as filtering can break up the flavour aroma proteins in wine and, exposing binding sites that can trigger allergic reactions like wine blush, headaches, and runny noses.
About The Winemaker
Richard Darby, Viticulturist and Winemaker
Originally from New Zealand, Richard left to travel the globe from vintage to vintage where he made wine in many regions both in the New and Old world. After settling in Australia, Richard joined the team at Trofeo Estate in 2012 where he applied his knowledge to create unique and premium terracotta wines. Richard’s belief is the best wine comes from the best grapes, a reflection of his time spent in both the vineyard and winery. Richard’s winemaking prowess set Trofeo Estate on the path to achieving a five star Halliday rating.