Hearing its name, you’d think this winery was set in sprawling fields with nothing but vineyards as far as the eye can see. Beckingham Wines, however, is what they call an urban winery because of its location in the suburbs of Melbourne.
Two doors down
Yes, that’s right: a winery in the suburbs! It started with a few barrels in the driveway, but eventually owner Peter Beckingham and his wife invested in some factory space in Moorabbin. Business really picked up and in 1997, one year before going commercial, Beckingham Wines scooped a number of awards for its wines, including a trophy for Best Red for its Cabernet. They went commercial in 1998 and the response to their wines was warm.
Growing
Today, Beckingham Wines harvests their grapes from two vineyards: Edgehill Estate for the Chardonnay, and Cornelia Creek shared between Shiraz, Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet. The area around the white vineyard is slightly cooler thanks to the influence of the Mornington Peninsula, while the climate around the red vineyard in the Goulburn Valley is a little warmer.
Sharing success
While both vineyards belong to Peter’s friends, he is the principle winemaker and strives to make good-quality, long-living wines. Beckingham Wines is best-known for its sparkling wine, Pas de Deux, but it also has success with its Cornelia Creek Shiraz and Edgehill Chardonnay. Beckingham Wines produces around 6000 cases a year, and although none are for export, they’re the kinds of wines that still rake in the awards ten years after going commercial.
Shop Online!
You’ll find Beckingham Wines here: Beckingham Wines
Visit these boutique wineries to grow your knowledge of boutique wine and boutique wineries:
