BRINGING HATS TO HEALESVILLE
WORDS Pip Young | PHOTOGRAPHY Hugh Davison
Jayden Ong Wines is a small, family owned and operated winery producing highly acclaimed wines: One Block, La Maison de Ong, Moonlit Forest, and Jayden Ong. Established in 2010, the winemaking operation has grown to include these four labels; they planted the highest altitude vineyard in the Yarra Valley in 2015. The Ong’s operate a mixed model where they farm their own vineyard, and up until 2020 the famed Chestnut Hill site, as well as working closely with six of the Yarra Valley’s premium growers. The grapes are grown in the ‘Forest Garden,’ on Mount Toolebewong, the highest altitude vineyard in the Yarra Valley, looking south over the beautiful central region. Jayden Ong, with partner Morgan, opened his new Healesville Winery & Cellar Bar in January 2021, offering lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well as dinner Friday and Saturday evenings.
Jayden is a highly acclaimed winemaker with many awards under his belt including two nominations for Young Gun of Wine. This year alone The Winery & Cellar Bar have already picked up Gourmet Traveller Wine 2022:Cellar Door with Best Food, Yarra Valley, and The Age Good Food Guide 2023:One Hat. A quiet achiever, he’s the co- founder and owner of legendary Melbourne restaurants Cumulus Inc., and Cumulus Up, as well as creating world class wines right here in the Yarra Valley. He is often described as a rising star of the wine industry, and one to watch. Ong’s philosophy on farming the land encompasses above and below ground, as well as the integration of the surroundings, using biodynamic and biological practices. It is organic farming specifically adapted to the ‘Forest Garden’, set amongst the forest landscape, 700m above sea-level. He considers it a combination approach to farming, where others may consider it ‘alternative’. The eponymous wines are detailed, pure and expressive with an alluring character defined by the vineyard and vintage. On their website, Jayden says, “Grapes are very good communicators of where they are grown. Each vintage poses new opportunities and challenges, experiences and emotions, stories which are captured in the bottle.”
To read the full article and see Jayden Ong’s local wine recommendations, find in issue #52 Summer 2022 here.
