The Philosophy Behind the Making
In the foothills of the Victorian High Country, Hugh and Raquel Jones merge viticulture and winemaking into a singular art form, epitomising the spirit of the ‘vigneron’. Raquel manages the vineyard and crafts the wine, embodying the paradigm of the vigneron: a deep, hands-on understanding of every stage, from soil to bottle, essential for achieving true excellence.
The couple was drawn to simpler, more natural methods inspired by biodynamic producers they admired in Burgundy and Spain. Raquel's educational background in biological sciences and viticulture, coupled with a childhood spent learning natural horticulture from her father, now beautifully informs her approach to the vineyard.
In the winery, texture is key, and close attention is given to mouthfeel, sometimes through extended skin contact and bâtonnage, to highlight the distinct characteristics of each vintage. Their mature vines produce small, intensely flavourful grapes and nearing harvest, Raquel makes the critical decisions - whilst tasting in the vineyard - that define the wines' characters. If stalks taste just right, whole bunches are included in their small-batch ferments, handled gently to preserve fruit purity and enhance complexity with native yeasts. Techniques are continuously fine-tuned - like reducing sulphur levels - to capture the subtle flavours you’d usually only taste straight from the barrel.
Their approach is through dialogue with nature, where every decision made is out of respect and care for the land and the legacy they’re building. Hugh and Raquel are committed to producing stunning, pure, and ethically made wines that they are proud to share.
Some Kind Words
"This is a fine chardonnay. It feels both elegant and flavoursome and it manages this balancing act by showing a fair amount of finesse. It tastes of grilled peach and flint, oatmeal and almonds but it’s just one of those chardonnays that feels harmonious; seamless, even. Nothing sticks out, everything flows, and yet there’s complexity here. It’s well grown, well made and well priced. This is a wine and a name to watch."- Campbell Mattinson for Wine Front on Weathercraft Estate Chardonnay
"Whole-bunch pressed, wild yeast, barrel fermented in French oak (25% new). Beechworth chardonnay comes alive, revelling in a purity of fruit managed with care. Regional hallmarks aplenty in a fine-edged, linear structure embracing a core of lemon, lime and white peach. Slowly releases layers of almond meal and grilled nuts underpinned by a grapefruit freshness." -Jeni Port for Wine Companion on Weathercraft Estate Chardonnay
"Beechworth is also a bastion of high-quality syrah, capable of parrying with the world’s very finest. The firmament of Castagna and Giaconda is joined by relative newcomer Weathercraft. Psychosomatic, perhaps, but the Spanish heritage of Weathercraft winemaker Raquel Jones seems to manifest as a certain polish to the style, not dissimilar to top Spanish reds. Her wines are defined by immaculate tannin management and precision."- Ned Goodwin MW for James Suckling on Weathercraft Reserve Syrah
“If you wonder why Beechworth has such a great reputation for Chardonnay, then I present this wine to you as proof. I absolutely adored it. It takes everything that the Estate Chardonnay has and just amplifies it, but without coming across as over the top. Brilliant primary aromas of lemon, grapefruit, hay, wax, apricot and cucumber are joined by secondary ones of cream and oak, and tertiary notes of nuts and smoke – there’s so much going on for the nose and palate that it’s almost sensory overload. The mouthfeel is vivacious and salty, with heaps of flavour that lingers, with an almost unctuous sensation and masses of acidity. It may be a hundred bucks but it is definitely worth it, and in about ten years it will be simply glorious.”- Brendan Black for Wine Pilot on Weathercraft Reserve Chardonnay
Our Wines
Explore our range of Reserve, Amphora and Estate wines.
