24/01/2026
The Heroes original vineyard has been unirrigated since 2016 and the Yeowarra Hill vines since 2021 - but why do we grow this way?
Unirrigated vines often produce higher-quality wine because the lack of artificial water induces some stress, forcing vines to restrict canopy growth and focus energy on ripening smaller, more concentrated berries. Our vines develop deeper root systems, accessing diverse soil minerals, and produce grapes with a higher skin-to-juice ratio, resulting in more intense flavor, deeper color, and higher tannin levels. Growing without irrigation allows a deeper connection to this singular vineyard and ensures a pure expression of the terroir in the wine.
How do they cope without watering?
We are situated in the Otway foothills, an area with good natural rainfall. The vines remain healthy by relying on deep root systems to access subsoil moisture, adapting their physiology to manage transpiration, and by utilising our vineyard management practices that reduce water loss. While our vines often produce lower yields, they are generally robust, capable of recovering from dry periods, and are proving to be a fantastic asset as managing a changing climate and water scarcity is becoming more necessary.
