Giant StepsVictoria, Australia

Giant Steps – A Benchmark for Cool-Climate Winemaking in Australia

Few wineries embody the spirit of precision, terroir, and innovation in the Yarra Valley quite like Giant Steps. Since its founding in 1997 by Phil Sexton, Giant Steps has carved out a reputation as one of Australia’s leading producers of single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Its focus has always been on crafting wines that reflect the nuances of site, soil, and season with clarity and restraint. From the very first vintage in 2001, the estate has set benchmarks for cool-climate Australian wine, and its acquisition by Jackson Family Wines in 2020 has only strengthened this commitment to excellence. Recognition culminated in Giant Steps being named 2025 Halliday Winery of the Year — a testament to its unwavering pursuit of quality.

A Legacy of Winemaking Talent

Central to Giant Steps’ success has been its team of visionary winemakers. Steve Flamsteed (2003–2021) was instrumental in establishing the winery’s reputation for purity, finesse, and transparent site expression. Since 2021, Melanie Chester has taken the reins, bringing a new focus on precision viticulture and sustainability. Working alongside senior winemaker Michael Latham (since 2020), the team continues to honour the estate’s ethos while refining the wines’ precision and clarity.

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The Vineyards of Giant Steps: Yarra Valley’s Finest Sites

Giant Steps’ reputation rests on its exceptional vineyard holdings, each farmed to highlight its distinct personality through thoughtful viticulture and minimal intervention.

Sexton Vineyard

Planted between 1998–1999 and home to a diverse array of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir clones, Sexton Vineyard sits on mudstone over clay soils in a warmer part of the Yarra Valley. Pioneering sustainable practices, including cover cropping, this vineyard consistently delivers fruit of intensity, minerality, and energy.

Tarraford Vineyard

Leased since 2003, Tarraford Vineyard brings complexity through its north, south, and east-facing aspects and clay loam over alluvial soils. With plantings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, it benefits from a slightly warmer microclimate, producing wines with texture and depth.

Applejack Vineyard

Acquired in 2013, Applejack is recognised as a benchmark site for Yarra Valley Pinot Noir. Planted to a tight selection of clones on east-facing slopes and weathered clay soils, this close-planted vineyard delivers fruit of precision, structure, and remarkable aromatic purity.

Bastard Hill Vineyard

The latest jewel in Giant Steps’ crown, Bastard Hill was acquired in 2022 and released its first wines under the Giant Steps label in 2023. At 370m elevation, surrounded by rainforest, it is a distinctly cool-climate site yielding wines of fine acidity, low yields, and remarkable site character.

Other Vineyards

Historically, Giant Steps has also sourced fruit from Primavera, Wombat Creek (Yarra Valley), Nocton (Tasmania), and Tosq (Central Otago, NZ) — sites chosen for their alignment with the estate’s pursuit of terroir transparency.

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Winemaking at Giant Steps: Clarity, Precision, and Restraint

Giant Steps champions low-intervention, small-batch winemaking designed to preserve site expression. In their Chardonnay, whole bunch pressing, wild yeast fermentations, and modest new French oak (10–15%) are key, delivering wines of finesse and crystalline purity. For Pinot Noir, techniques vary by site and vintage — from whole berry to whole bunch — but always with a focus on gentle extraction, wild fermentations, and gravity flow.

The move to a new winery with a gravity flow system has allowed even greater precision, ensuring fruit is handled delicately from vineyard to bottle. Importantly, Giant Steps rejects overt reductive winemaking tricks, preferring instead to let the vineyards speak through the glass.

The Wines of Giant Steps: Purity, Precision, Place

Giant Steps’ range is built around single-vineyard expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, each wine a faithful reflection of its origin. These are wines noted for their elegance, site transparency, and ageability, with vibrant acidity, mineral drive, and restrained alcohol at their core.

Their wines consistently earn acclaim, with 27 trophies and over 95 gold medals at major shows. Recognition extends internationally, with Giant Steps listed among Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries for six consecutive years and participating in the Wine Spectator Grand Tour since 2018.

Under Melanie Chester’s leadership, Giant Steps continues its evolution, embracing precision viticulture and sustainability while remaining fiercely committed to site-specific excellence. The addition of Bastard Hill and ongoing innovations at the winery ensure Giant Steps remains at the forefront of Australian cool-climate winemaking.