Mark Walpole (who began his viticultural career with Brown Brothers in the late 1980s) and partner Carolyn De Poi found their elevated north-facing site south of Beechworth in 1995. They commenced planting the Aquila Audax Vineyard in 97 with cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir, subsequently expanding with significant areas of sangiovese, tempranillo, shiraz, petit manseng and chardonnay. In 2009 they were fortunate to lease the oldest vineyard in the region, planted by the Smith family in 1978 to chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

A classic Beechworth Chardonnay, straw-gold with a green tinge: aromas of hazelnut, yellow peach, and nuances of matchstick mingled with spicy-oak notes of ginger and orange zest; the attack is full of rich, peach and nectarine fruit flavours.

Brown Brothers Patricia Chardonnay is an elegant style balancing natural acidity with intense fruit flavour. Named in honour of Patricia Brown, the fruit for this exceptional white wine consists of 57% from the Brown Brothers Whitlands vineyard and the balance from Coombe Farm vineyard located in the Yarra Valley. The Yarra Valley experiences cool ripening conditions just like the Whitlands vineyard. The vineyard selection contributes to a tight style with wonderful fig and mealy characters typical of a cool climate Chardonnay.

Chardonnay sourced from Victorias cool climate King Valley goes into Nugan's Estate Chardonnay. Pale straw in appearance, with a youthful green hue. Aromas of peach, nectarine, poached peach and mixed spice, a rich mout filling palate of stone fruit, biscuit and yeast notes with a crisp acidity make this a good drink.

Brokenwood Pinot Gris is sourced from a wonderful vineyard site in Beechworth that allows this rich and textural Pinot Gris to show its true colours. Aromas and flavours of peach, melon, honeysuckle and candied pear are all present in a delicious true Gris style.

Fresh and energetic chardy from Victoria’s High Country. Nutty, a little savoury and cheesy in parts, but with zippy stone fruit acidity that bristles on the palate. This is a wonderful example of high altitude brightness that doesn’t become overly lean or stingy. Nectarine, whole lemon, apricot, white peach - this has got it all. Complex and generous chardy under fifteen bucks? Sounds like a steal to me.

Medium yellow colour, with the aromas of honey and fig fruit. Rich and buttery with balanced oak length.

Crafted from 100% Beechworth fruit, with wild yeast fermentation and extended lees contact to enhance texture and mouthfeel. Some casual time in (seasoned) oak imbues savouriness and an added layer of complexity to the wine. The result is a zesty, dry Gris that is enjoyably easy to drink any time of year.

Handpicked, whole bunch pressed, limited time on skins and racked with full solids into French oak of varying age and sizes including some new (Rousseau) oak. Like all Warner Vineyard wines this was with indigenous yeasts and left on lees until bottling in February 2016. This wine has been treated with minimal intervention including no filtering prior to bottling. This wine has a beautiful colour imparted from the skins and lees.