The winemaking philosophy at Innocent Bystander is simple, take the fantastic grapes they’ve harvested and let their exceptional qualities mature through careful nurturing. Their reds are treated to gentle fermentations in open top fermenters, this might include a portion of whole bunch or wild yeast ferment. Their whites may be pampered with a relaxing spell in mature oak and gentle lees stirring to really show their depth of character. The Yarra Valley is their home and where it all began for Innocent Bystander. It has a wine history that dates back well over 100 years, however its reputation has been cemented in the last 15 years, largely thanks to the fantastic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay produced there. It’s the soils, climate and the combination of cool mountainside vineyards and warmer, valley floor sites that provide the diversity and complexity of flavours and aromas that make their Yarra Valley wines so spectacular. While they are at home in the valley they also love a few styles of wine that don’t grow so well around there. When that happens they look elsewhere to get the best grapes they can looking at King Valley for fresh, bright Prosecco and luscious Swan Hill Moscato as well as taking juicy parcels of Tempranillo from Heathcote and zesty King Valley Pinot Gris. The bottom line is that they don’t over work their wines, they treat them gently to ensure their bright fruit characters shine through on a long, smooth palate.