Purple Hen is a family-owned and operated winery on Phillip Island, Victoria, making premium cool-climate wines. It began in 2001, when Rick Lacey and Maira Vitols bought 32 hectares of prime grazing land. Planting began in January 2002, the first vintage came in 2004, an on-site winery followed in 2005 and the cellar door opened at Easter 2006.
The vineyard has grown to about 11 hectares, mostly Pinot Noir and Shiraz, with Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines have won more than 150 medals and 30 trophies.
The owners prefer to see themselves as 'wine midwives' rather than winemakers, stepping in only if things go awry and otherwise helping nature take its course.
- Visiting
- Open to visitors
- Founded
- 2001
Visit the Purple Hen Wines website
Regions
Wines
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Cabernet Sauvignon — Red
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Chardonnay — White
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Merlot — Red
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Pinot Noir — Red
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Rose — Rosé
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Sauvignon Blanc — White
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Shiraz — Red
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Unwooded Chardonnay — White
- Purple Hen Wines Gippsland Viognier — White