Whiskey Gully Wines under the stewardship of John and Denice Arlidge began it’s adventure into viticulture in 1997 when Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay were planted on the property. Additional plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon were added in 1999 along with Colombard. As of August 2020 Whiskey Gully is the only Granite Belt winery producing Colombard which I’m told is something to accompany Thai food. Further plantings of all these varieties occurred in 2005 and in 2012 some Black Muscat was grafted along with half an acre of Malbec. Malbec is the flagship variety of Argentina but it does well in Australia in The Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek and on The Granite Belt.
Phillippa, the partner of current winemaker Rod MacPherson, was the original winemaker at Whiskey Gully. I first encountered Phillippa when she was making the wines at Preston Peak at Wyberba in 1995 but now she’s a busy mum and only occasionally, or so it was relayed to me, assists Rod with the estate winemaking – John says he gets two winemakers for the cost of one! Regardless there’s a lot of experience and knowledge behind each bottle of Whiskey Gully Wine.
When you visit Whiskey Gully Wines for a tasting you are highly likely to experience something quite different. The larger than life Whiskey Gully public face is John Arlidge. The very articulate John will guide you through a tasting with entertaining stories injected with his own style of wit while his thespian like qualities are continuously on display.
John “conducting” a tasting on the cellar door verandah
It’s entirely possible that he will disappear and re-emerge clutching a guitar, although I have also seen a didgeridoo and drum on display, and commence a musical interlude.
John entertaining our daughter with, “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” and then us with two more adult numbers
The cellar door at Whiskey Gully is located in a magnificent old wooden homestead surrounded by verandahs. Shown below, on the left, is the main entrance to the house. The wine dispensing bar is on the right however the bar is rarely used as John likes to conduct guided tastings outside on the verandah or in a dining room inside the homestead for some warmth on very cold days.
The Wines
Red Wines:
• Piazza Red (Shiraz/Malbec) | • Division Bell Shiraz | • Upper House Cabernet Sauvignon | • Parlimentary Blend (Shiraz/Cabernet/Malbec | • Yes Minister (Cabernet/Malbec) | • Frosty’s Rosé
White Wines:
• Bon Bloc Colombard | • Betty’s Bloc Colombard | • Reserve Chardonnay | • Avant Garde – Marsanne/Viognier | • Avant Garde – Verdelho | • Star Jasmine Moscato | • Pinnacle White | •
Aperitif & Dessert:
• Entente Cordiale | • Pangloss (Late Harvest Colombard/Chardonnay) | • Nectar (Late Picked Colombard)
Details
Location: 25 Turner Rd, Severnlea 4380.
Hours: Monday/Tuesday 10am – 5pm. Friday/Saturday/Sunday 10am – 4pm.
Call Whiskey Gully Wines 
0746835100
Whiskey Gully Wines Web Site
