Bromley Wines rises to the challenge

Celebrations are flowing for local winemaker Darren Burke after taking out the Geelong region award in the Australian Pinot Challenge for his own label, Bromley Wines.

Darren’s drop was among those made by Pinot Noir producers from around the country who put forward approximately 220 entries in the 2021 challenge.

“Winning any award is a huge achievement as there are so many really good wines out there,” Darren says.

“To win this award means the world. To have my small brand win a trophy in the challenge is a massive achievement.

“A big thankyou to the amazing Bellarine growers I buy Pinot Noir from, Richard and Margo Harrison from Marcus Hill Vineyard and Sam Murray from Oneday Estate.”

Darren is also the winemaker for The Sharp Group where he produces wines for the Jack Rabbit, Leura Park and Yes Said the Seal labels.

In fact, it is the second time he has tasted success at the Australian Pinot Challenge after taking out top national honours at the inaugural awards in 2017 for the 2016 Yes Said the Seal Pinot Noir.

Yes Said the Seal also won the Best In Trophy Award at the recent Geelong Wine Show.

“I have been fortunate to win many trophies over the last decade at the local and national level making wines for Leura Park and Yes Said the Seal,” Darren says humbly.

Darren says he knew early on in his winemaking career that he wanted to establish his own brand.

“Bromley has provided me with the opportunity to push the boundaries without commercial consideration,” he says.

“To have something that was solely mine, where all the decisions could be made in a simple conversation with my wife Tammy over a G & T.

“Fermenting whites on skins, super extended time on skins for reds, the use of terracotta vessels – these are an example of what having Bromley has allowed me to do.”

Darren says Bromley Wines are all about texture, structure, fragrance and fruit.

Darren works with Pinot Noir (red wine and Rosé), Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chenin Blanc and Semillon and grapes are sourced exclusively from the Geelong region at the moment, but have also been sourced from the Heathcote region in the past.

He says the winning 2019 Bromley Pinot stood out as it is a wine from a warmer year, but with elegance and restraint.

“Bright red fruits, with supple rich mouthfeel and balanced fine grained tannins at the back end which give the wine depth, carry and complexity,” Darren explains.

Tasmanian newcomer OSSA Wines won the 2021 Australian Pinot Noir Trophy for its 2020 OSSA Pinot Noir with a score of 96 points out of 100.

The 2020 Lonely Shore Pinot Noir from Manjimup was the inaugural WA region winner scoring 95 points.

The three other Best of Region Trophies, which also scored 95 points, went to the 2020 Paringa Estate Robinson Vineyard Pinot Noir for the Mornington Peninsula region, the 2020 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir for the Yarra Valley region, and – of course – the 2019 Bromley Pinot Noir for the Geelong region.

Darren makes about 30 wines at the winery across three of the Sharp Group Brands, for contract clients and his own Bromley Wines.

“It is challenging to balance but essentially I treat every wine like it is my own,” he says of the busy schedule.

“I’m very big on attention to detail and leaving no stone unturned to get the best outcome.

“I very much take a hands-off approach to winemaking, allowing the fruit and vineyards their voice!”

When it comes his future vision for Bromley the accomplished winemaker intends to continue to “push boundaries gently” and to “continue making wines of tenacity, verve and excitement that people enjoy drinking”.