Oakridge Wines

Oakridge Wines was founded in 1978 when Horst 'Jim' Zitzlaff planted the first vines on a four-hectare former cherry orchard in Wandin East, a site that is now known as Five Oaks Vineyard. The estate's early focus was Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and a small amount of Rhine Riesling, with first commercial releases in the early 1980s. In 1998, the Zitzlaff family relocated production to a more prominent site on Maroondah Highway in Coldstream, building a new 1,100-tonne winery and cellar door to support broader distribution and visitor traffic. The business has passed through several ownership cycles since: Margaret River-based Evans and Tate acquired Oakridge in 2001 and brought David Bicknell on board as winemaker the following year to revitalise the operation. The estate returned to private family ownership under the D'Aloisio and Atlas families between 2007 and 2021, who commissioned the striking Denton Corker Marshall-designed cellar door and restaurant that opened in 2013. In 2021, Oakridge was acquired by Paragon Wine Estates, the wine business operated by Endeavour Group (ASX: EDV), the publicly-listed Australian retail and hospitality group that operates Dan Murphy's, BWS, and major hospitality assets. David Bicknell's continuous leadership across all ownership changes has provided the winemaking continuity that defines Oakridge's modern identity.

• 1978: founded by Horst 'Jim' Zitzlaff in Wandin East on a four-hectare former cherry orchard (now Five Oaks Vineyard)
• 1998: relocated to Coldstream on Maroondah Highway with new 1,100-tonne winery; 2013: Denton Corker Marshall-designed cellar door and restaurant opens
• Ownership cycles: Evans and Tate (2001-2007), D'Aloisio/Atlas families (2007-2021), Paragon Wine Estates (Endeavour Group) since 2021
• David Bicknell chief winemaker since 2002 across all ownership cycles; provides winemaking continuity that defines the modern Oakridge identity

Oakridge operates three principal estate vineyards across the Upper Yarra Valley, each contributing distinct character shaped by elevation, aspect, and soil. The Oakridge Vineyard in Coldstream is the home estate; the Hazeldene Vineyard in Gladysdale sits at 180 metres elevation on red volcanic soils; and the Henk Vineyard in Woori Yallock provides the highest and coolest fruit in the portfolio. Within these vineyards, individual blocks are farmed and harvested separately to capture single-block terroir distinctions. The Funder and Diamond Drive Block, planted in 1990 in the red volcanic soils of Wandin East using the P58 Chardonnay clone, is the source of the flagship 864 Chardonnay that won the 2025 Halliday Wine of the Year. The Hazeldene Block 1, a north-facing 180-metre site planted in 1998 using the MV6 Pinot Noir clone in red volcanic soils of Gladysdale, is the source of the 864 Hazeldene Pinot Noir. The Henk Vineyard Aqueduct Block, planted in 2008 to Dijon clone 95 in the volcanic soils of Woori Yallock, is the highest and coolest Chardonnay source in the Oakridge portfolio. In total, Oakridge owns 20.8 hectares and leases an additional 16.6 hectares across the broader vineyard network.

• Three principal estate vineyards: Oakridge (Coldstream), Hazeldene (Gladysdale, 180m), Henk (Woori Yallock, highest and coolest)
• Funder and Diamond Drive Block: planted 1990 in Wandin East red volcanic soils; P58 clone; source of flagship 864 Chardonnay
• Hazeldene Block 1: north-facing at 180m, MV6 Pinot Noir clone planted 1998 in red volcanic soils of Gladysdale; source of 864 Hazeldene Pinot Noir
• 20.8 hectares owned plus 16.6 hectares leased; individual blocks farmed and harvested separately to capture single-block terroir character

David Bicknell's guiding philosophy, 'the devil is in the detail,' drives a meticulous approach from vine to bottle that has fundamentally shifted Australian Chardonnay style. The 864 Chardonnay programme begins with hand-picking and whole-bunch pressing directly to French oak puncheons (approximately 20% new) for natural fermentation without inoculation. Following primary fermentation, the wines age for 10 months in barrel on full lees with selective battonage to build texture, then transfer to tank for a further six months on lees before bottling. This extended lees contact builds complexity and creamy texture while preserving the site-specific mineral character that defines the style. Pinot Noir is produced using whole-berry and whole-bunch combinations in open fermentation vessels with hand plunging, then matured in French oak barriques (approximately 30% new) for 10-11 months. The 864 range is produced only in the finest vintages and represents the ultimate expression of each single block. Bicknell co-founded the Victorian Pinot Noir Workshop in 2002, was named Dux of the Len Evans Tutorial in 2005, and was awarded Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year in 2017, all reflecting his deep engagement with cool-climate variety and terroir.

• 864 Chardonnay: hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed to French oak puncheons (~20% new), natural fermentation; 10 months on lees in barrel plus 6 months on lees in tank
• Pinot Noir: whole-berry and whole-bunch combinations in open fermentation vessels with hand plunging; 10-11 months in French oak barriques (~30% new)
• 864 range produced only in finest vintages; represents ultimate expression of each single block; site transparency prioritised over winemaking style
• David Bicknell credentials: Victorian Pinot Noir Workshop co-founder 2002, Dux Len Evans Tutorial 2005, Halliday Winemaker of the Year 2017

Oakridge is certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and applies biological farming across all vineyard holdings, treating soil health as the foundation for fruit quality. Chief Viticulturist Steve Faulkner manages cover-cropping, estate-made compost teas, and an on-site insectarium to foster biodiversity and reduce synthetic inputs. The winery participates in the Yarra Ranges Ribbons of Green program, which restores native plant corridors across the landscape. Precision viticultural practices, including selective canopy management, block-by-block harvest decisions, and detailed soil microbiology monitoring, allow the team to capture optimal ripeness within each individual site. The Oakridge Winery Block underwent an intensive four-year biological rejuvenation programme to restore vine health using compost teas, cover cropping, and biological inputs rather than synthetic interventions, demonstrating the team's commitment to long-term sustainable land stewardship. These practices reinforce the single-block focus of the 864 and Vineyard Series ranges: site transparency depends on healthy soils and balanced vineyard ecosystems, and Oakridge's biological farming framework supports both quality and environmental commitment.

• Certified Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; biological farming framework across all vineyard holdings
• Cover-cropping, estate-made compost teas, on-site insectarium for biodiversity; participates in Yarra Ranges Ribbons of Green program
• Winery Block rejuvenation: four-year biological programme using compost teas, cover crops, biological inputs to restore vine health
• Block-by-block harvest decisions and precision canopy management optimise ripeness within each individual site

Oakridge has accumulated over 500 domestic and international trophies and medals across its modern era under David Bicknell. The 2022 864 Funder and Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay was named Wine of the Year, Chardonnay of the Year, and White Wine of the Year at the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards with a score of 98 points; Halliday tasting judge Philip Rich described Bicknell as 'the godfather of modern Australian chardonnay.' The estate has held a Halliday Top Five Star Winery rating for 17 consecutive years and ranked number one in the Halliday Top 100 Wineries for 2023. Oakridge was also named Winery of the Year 2023 by The Real Review and Best Value Winery of the Year at the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, reflecting both quality and accessibility across the portfolio. The 864 Funder and Diamond Chardonnay was inducted into Langton's Classification in 2018, joining the small handful of Australian white wines in Australia's most prestigious wine classification. The 2022 Vineyard Series Hazeldene Pinot Noir won Wine of Show, Best Red Wine, and Best Pinot Noir at the 2024 Yarra Valley Wine Show. Oakridge has fundamentally shifted Australian Chardonnay perception from broad and oaky toward precise, mineral, and site-specific expression, and now serves as essential reference reading for WSET and CMS students studying Australian cool-climate viticulture.

• 2022 864 Funder and Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay: Wine of the Year, Chardonnay of the Year, White Wine of the Year (2025 Halliday Awards, 98 points)
• 17 consecutive Halliday Top Five Star Winery ratings; #1 in Halliday Top 100 Wineries 2023; The Real Review Winery of the Year 2023; Halliday Best Value Winery 2024
• 864 Funder and Diamond Chardonnay inducted into Langton's Classification 2018; 2022 Hazeldene Pinot Noir won Wine of Show at 2024 Yarra Valley Wine Show
• Essential reference for WSET/CMS students on Australian cool-climate viticulture and single-block specialisation; fundamentally shifted Australian Chardonnay style