Garagiste

The Garagiste wines by Barnaby Flanders epitomize small-batch excellence in the heart of Mornington Peninsula. Flanders' pursuit of crafting premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay led him to explore the sub-regionality of the peninsula, where slight variations in aspect and soil profile provide the foundation for his exceptional wines.

Since its inception in 2006, Garagiste has emerged as one of Victoria's brightest stars, showcasing Flanders' commitment to single-site, sub-regional expressions of his beloved region. From Tuerong's sandy soils to the vibrant red volcanic soils of Main Ridge, Garagiste sources high-quality, respectably farmed parcels to create wines of distinct character.

At the heart of Garagiste's story lies the Merricks Grove vineyard, where Flanders began his winemaking journey in 2000. Here, meticulous attention to detail reigns supreme, with Flanders overseeing every aspect of vineyard management and winemaking, resulting in finely tuned expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The winemaking philosophy is simple yet precise: capture acidity through precise picking, employ whole bunch pressing for Chardonnay, and utilize natural ferments with minimal oak influence. The resulting Garagiste 'house style' sees succulent, finely crafted wines that exude elegance and complexity that rank amongst the very best of the region.

Managed by Flanders and his business partner Cam, Garagiste offers a range of cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, complemented by the exceptional value Le Stagiaire label. From the textured Pinot Noirs to the taut, linear Chardonnays, these are some of our favourite wines in the country, made by one of the best blokes in the business.

No. 64 Winery in the Country 
"Any Australian producer who makes a high quality fist of the white wine variety aligoté is likely to be a producer of note, as does Garagiste, and so it’s no surprise that the quality of the chardonnays and pinot noirs on offer here are exceptional. Garagiste is a seriously good wine producer and, even better, deems value to be of high importance too."
- Campbell Mattinson (Halliday Top 100 Wineries in Australia 2023)

"Year in, year out this is the best value chardy from the peninsula because of the quality, not simply the price."
- Jane Faulkner on the Le Stagiaire Chardonnay