Eminence Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier 2021

Clare Burder helms Eminence, originating from her family's Whitlands estate, first sown with vines in 1998, the vineyard claims the distinction of being perhaps the chilliest and certainly the loftiest in Victoria at an elevation of 868 meters. This vineyard is part of the Whitlands plateau, which forms the King Valley's western boundary and features nutrient-rich Cambrian Loam—a red/brown soil with excellent drainage. Eco-friendly methods are the only interventions permitted on the vines, no pesticides or herbicides allowed. The terroir yields fruit of exceptional intensity, balanced acidity, and full phenolic maturity.

From her teenage years assisting with planting to her ongoing involvement in the vineyard's growth, Clare has been a constant presence. The inception of Eminence Wines came in 2008 when she chose to produce wine from their own grapes, mentored by the late sparkling wine expert Tony Jordan.

In addition to her roles as winemaker and vigneron, Clare wears many hats today. She is an accredited wine instructor, television personality, author, savvy businesswoman, and seasoned panelist, not to mention an MC and public speaker. While the majority of the grapes are sold off, Clare reserves a select portion of the highest quality, hand-harvested fruit to produce The Assembly range. These are Australian wines that enchant with their elegance, complexity, and downright tastiness.