Ten Minutes by Tractor needs little introduction, nor does the man in charge, Martin Spedding. A gently-spoken man with a background in finance and IT, in 2002, he finally acknowledged the fact that his true passion lay in wine. Despite his origins in New South Wales, he simply couldn’t get enough of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and would travel down to Victoria to immerse himself in Australia’s heartland of these noble varieties. In 2003, he visited one of his favourite small wineries on Mornington Peninsula and was delighted to discover that it was for sale. Without a moment’s hesitation, he snapped it up, and so began Martin’s journey with Ten Minutes by Tractor.

Trahere are a new limited release range of wines that are inspired by the high-density vineyard in Main Ridge and are the culmination of many years of planning, hard work and passion.

The 2021 Trahere Chardonnay is a masterclass in precision and elegance. It opens with alluring aromas of macadamia and white blossom, leading into a seductive, creamy mid-palate layered with grapefruit pith, makrut lime, and nectarine. A mineral core provides a foundation from beginning to end, culminating in a long, refined finish.

The Trahere Chardonnay is sourced from high-density vineyards in Main Ridge, specifically the Spedding and Gabrielle Vineyards, planted at 12,120 vines per hectare. These vineyards sit high within the beautiful valleys stretching from the lower eastern reaches of Arthur’s Seat to Western Port, featuring rich red volcanic soils with deposits of ironstone. The high-density planting creates greater competition between vines, resulting in deeper root systems, smaller bunch and berry sizes, and significantly greater flavour concentration.