Description
About Payten and Jones Wine
Allegedly the only two (literate) students to Graduate Healesville High School 1997, we were always destined to work together. Behn (the Payten) drove his first Tractor at the age of 5. Troy (the Jones) was talking by the age of 1 and hasn’t shut up since.
Naturally we fell in with the wrong crowd out here, and became heavily involved in the wine industry.
Behn’s dad Pete knows a thing or two about vineyards. Before his years of working in the Yarra Valley, he managed Australia’s first organic vineyard and is always focused heavily on sustainability. We knew we were in good hands. The three of us continue to spend regular nights sharing a glass of Red, solving the world’s problems.
Our wines are a little different – they may be murky in the glass and can sometimes throw a bit of sediment.
They always look better with a bit of air, served neat in a glass (although straws also work), at the right temperature, with fresh food and great company.
The wines are not ‘perfect’ by industry standards, but they have the perfect personality for the situations they’re made for.
Drinking these wines is like experiencing a band live, as opposed to listening to a recorded track.
There’s minimal intervention and doing nothing to a wine is the hardest part of making it. Always interesting, with a little soul left in.
Payten and Jones Winery is a celebrated producer in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, known for its vibrant, characterful wines and a story rooted in friendship and community. The winery was founded by Behn Payten and Troy Jones, childhood friends and Healesville High School graduates, who teamed up with Behn’s father, Peter Payten—a pioneer in organic viticulture who managed Australia’s first certified organic vineyard in the early 1970s. Their shared vision is to craft wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Yarra Valley while embracing minimal intervention and sustainability.
The Payten and Jones winemaking philosophy centers on letting the vineyard speak for itself. All fruit is handpicked, and the wines are made with natural yeasts, minimal additives, and no fining or filtration, resulting in bottles that are sometimes a little “murky” and unfiltered, yet full of personality and soul. Their approach yields wines that are raw, edgy, and always interesting—designed to be enjoyed with good food and great company.
Their portfolio is diverse, featuring varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Syrah, Grenache, Verdelho, and more. Notable wines include the Leuconoe Sangiovese, Valley Vignerons Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Major Kong Syrah, and Hollow Bones Pinot Noir. The Valley Vignerons range offers approachable, everyday wines, while the Payten & Jones label showcases more contemplative, site-driven expressions.
With over a decade of vintages under their belt, Payten and Jones continue to champion the Yarra Valley’s distinct character, producing wines that are both delicious and a true reflection of their origins.
