There’s one, big, core difference between the wines made at Trofeo Estate and the others made on the Mornington Peninsula.
It’s not in the varietals. Like many other MP wineries, Trofeo Estate specialise in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with some Pinot Gris and Shiraz thrown into the mix. What’s different is how the wines are fermented.
At Trofeo Estate, all the wines are fermented and matured in huge terracotta pots known as amphora. Aging wines in amphora is a technique that dates back over 6000 years, but one that hasn’t been seen too often in the southern hemisphere. Unlike barrels, amphora doesn’t impart any flavour to the wine, so what you taste at the end is all fruit. And unlike stainless steel, terracotta breathes, allowing oxygen into the amphora which has an impact on the way the wine feels in your mouth. This results in some very interesting wines.