You can probably guess that this Chardonnay comes from a single block (about an acre in size. Who knew!) that's now 45 years old. The One Acre Chardonnay is a stunning modern Aussie Chard, too, with this fantastic mix of richer creamed peach, apple and honey but with fresh, life-affirming acidity to finish things off. That taut-but-creamy mode makes this complex Chardonnay so very delicious.

The story of Rising Wines has two main characters. The first one is the vines, with the Rising Vineyard a prized plot on the outskirts of St Andrews in the Yarra Valley. Planted in 1984, this picturesque (but occasionally super steep) estate feels different to the rest of the Yarra, right down to the eclectic mix of grapes (including Semillon, Savagnin & Gewurz). What's not unusual is that Chardonnay & Pinot Noir thrive here, and the patchwork of slopes and soil types help to deliver a smorgasbord of different expressions and flavours. Our other character is Anthony Fikkers, the seriously talented and detail-focused Yarra star who stewards this wonderful old site and helps deliver such charismatic wines. A well-travelled winemaker, Fikkers has worked for a swag of prominent wineries, including Giant Steps, Medhurst and Mac Forbes, and, when he could squeeze it in along the way, worked vintages in Piedmont, Burgundy, and Baden. It's a cliche, but the combo of winemaking stars and unique sites helps make the Rising Wines special. Even more surprising is that despite the specialness, these wines remain (relatively) affordable, which we love to see.