Description
About Trofeo Estate
Trofeo Estate is a family-owned vineyard, winery, cellar door, wine room and events venue located on the Mornington Peninsula in Dromana, approximately one hour south of Melbourne’s CBD. Upon entering through our stunning tree-lined driveway, you’ll be greeted with a uniquely refurbished 1930s passionfruit cannery building surrounded by 50 acres of picturesque vineyard views.
The Estate previously operated as a winery in the 1950s, however due to a devastating bushfire in 1967 the vines were destroyed. It was then used as a pasture and dairy cool stores, until preceding owners Bob and Sue Pieme planted vines in 1998. Our current owners Jim and Kathy Manolios acquired the Estate in 2012, where it was named ‘Trofeo’ after Jim’s successful motorsports company. Our owners have since worked tirelessly alongside our founding winemaker Richard Darby to nurture the vineyard, incorporating organic farming and viticulture principles to bring the vineyard to life.
Jim’s background in science (BSc majoring in Biochemistry) and passion for wine encouraged him to explore alternative winemaking methods in pursuit of producing wine in its purest form, without the use of oak barrels. After researching several winemaking methods, Jim and Richard identified modern Amphorae (terracotta) as a viable way to ferment and mature wine. Today, we are considered the largest producer of terracotta amphora wine in the southern hemisphere. Jim’s interest in wine can be traced back more than 300 years to his family’s Greek heritage on the Island of Samos.