In Old Soil,
A New Era Begins
Set in the rolling Barrabool Hills, just West of Geelong, Victoria, Peppercorn Ridge is a family run boutique vineyard, part of an exciting revival of a historic wine region whose viticultural roots trace back to the mid 1800s. The property itself is located near the small township of Ceres, the site of some of the area’s original vineyards, We’re breathing new life into this historic terroir with carefully selected and nurtured Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay and Pinot Meunier vines.
Since 2007, the Alexander family has been proud custodians of this remarkable property in Ceres. For many years it was simply home and a place to raise the kids. But when COVID brought the family back together under one roof, time slowed and ideas started to develop. What began as casual research into the district’s past soon uncovered a rich and largely forgotten viticultural history, and with it, a sense of responsibility.
We discovered that Henry Best, of Best's Great Western, had sourced Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir cuttings from vineyards in the Barrabool Hills near Ceres before planting them in Great Western in 1867. Amongst those original 1867 plantings at Bests there are some 40 varieties still producing today, including the oldest Dolcetto and Pinot Meunier vines in the world.
That historical connection felt profound. In a full circle moment, the Thomson family were kind enough to allow us to take cuttings from those historic vines, graft them onto phylloxera resistant rootstock and replant them back on the land they once called home.
Guided by both history and instinct, we have also planted Chardonnay and Gamay; varieties we believe speak clearly to the future of the Geelong region. The journey has demanded patience, resilience and unwavering belief. From the first serious conversations to our inaugural vintage in 2026, more than five years of planning, planting and perseverance will have shaped this chapter.
With the initial planting of approximately 4 acres of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Gamay, and under the guidance of winemaker Ben Mullen, our hope is to produce the best boutique wine in Geelong and to establish a wine brand that is recognisable across the region from vines grown sustainably and profitably.
Our Story
Our vines are grown in partnership with nature by using innovative technology and processes, especially regarding minimal irrigation, integrated pest and disease control, vineyard ecology and soil health that we can adopt as we meet the challenges of a warmer, drier climate.
Once celebrated as the “Bordeaux of the Antipodes,” the Barrabool Hills story deserves continuation. Our role is simple: to honour what came before, to farm with intent, and to contribute thoughtfully to the region’s next era alongside its iconic producers.
Our vision is to build on the story around the history of the Barrabool Hills wine region, the grape varieties that were popular prior to the Phylloxera outbreak in the 1860’s, and the connection with early Swiss and German pioneers of the Victorian Wine Industry.
