The Bellarine Peninsula's role in the development of the Australian wine industry began in 1842, when vines were planted in the surrounding Barrabool Hills. Grown and managed mainly by Swiss immigrants, these vineyards yielded wines which were sold through regular auctions in the city of Geelong. Established in 1982, Scotchmans Hill has become a producer of some of Australia's most complex, elegant and consistent wines. Shiraz vines, clone PT23 are trained to vertical shoot positioning. Fruit is fermented in small open top pots, hand plunged and left on skins for three weeks, followed by a year's maturation in a selection of new to four year old French Troncais oak barriques.