Each year, the winery bottles up to 6000 of the Sauvignon Blanc variety. The popularity, however, can see the wine sold out within six months. 

Norton Estate Wines owners Chris and Sam Spence are planting 1800 new vines over the next four days, which takes the Sauvignon Blanc vines well over 3000. 

Mr Spence said the additional vines will allow the winery to double the amount of Sauvignon Blanc that is bottled in two years.

“We don’t have the continuity of supply and that’s what we are hoping from our new block,” he said. “We pulled our markets away from Melbourne and we supply Horsham, Halls Gap and one customer in Hamilton and we still find that we can’t keep up, but we want the locals to enjoy our product all year round.” 

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The winery is well-known for its red wine varieties. For the first time this year, Norton Estate Wines received a five glass rating for its four red wines in the James Hallidays 2019 wine companion. 

Despite its focus on red wines, Mr Spence said he was not surprised its sole white wine option was in the spotlight. 

“It’s not surprising that it has become a hit because of the way our winemakers have developed it and guided us on looking after the vines,” he said. 

“When we initially planted we knew the red wines were going to be the focus and they still are, but we have altered the way we make the Sauvignon Blanc – so, it’s more elegant and refined.

“It’s a very European, French style in the way it’s made and since we did that the girls have gone berserk.”

While the new Sauvignon Blanc vines are the current project for the winery, the husband and wife duo have one more project on the horizon. 

Mr Spence said they will be planting 1000 new Norton Grape vines, which is a red variety. 

“That will bring us up to 15 acres of vines, which is more than enough for a husband and wife team to take care of,” he said. 

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