We were tipped-off about Ocean Eight when staying in the Mornington Peninsula in March. We followed it up and met with Mike Aylward, winemaker at Ocean Eight, the following day. Are we pleased we did!
Mike is making excellent wines. Later that week we were dining at the Pearl Restaurant in South Yarra, Melbourne. I mentioned to the Sommelier that he should consider putting some Ocean Eight wines on his list. He told us that they had been on there and that he would call Mike the following day to make a further purchase (Mike you owe me for that one!).
Ocean Eight makes top quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris; these are the varieties that suit the Mornington Peninsula’s soil profile and climatic condition.
Ocean Eight is owned by the Aylward family. The winery is located on Tucks Road in Shoreham. All grapes picked for this small production come from the 17 Hectares of vineyard owned by the Aylwards. Chris and Gail Aylward started producing wine on the Peninsula in 1997 when they established Kooyong. The focus was top quality wine that suited the climate of the Mornington Peninsula. Quality was maintained by controlling all aspects of production including vineyard management, winemaking and bottling. Kooyong was sold in 2004 to the owners of Port Phillip Estate.
In this same year the Aylwards started Ocean Eight. This time, small vineyards were carefully selected for their potential for fantastic Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris fruit. The winery for Ocean Eight was built into the hillside at the family’s property in Shoreham. This enabled a temperature controlled, gravity fed winery to be built that would help enhance the quality of all wine made on site. While waiting for the first vintage, winemaker Mike Aylward travelled through Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne to determine the styles and methods of wines to make. Visiting many of the top French winemakers highlighted two things. Meticulous care in grape-growing is the key to quality; while simple winemaking practices usually produce the greatest wines.
Mike has a passion for Burgundian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay but believes the Mornington Peninsula is developing its own fantastic styles. These will one day be as highly sought after as their French counterparts.
All Ocean Eight’s wines are made in small quantities to ensure high quality and a focused style of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris can be achieved.
Ocean Eight is named in honour of the eighth hole at The National Golf Club's Ocean course in Cape Schanck, a favourite of the winemaker.
We are stocking the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.