MDI Sangiovese 2023

Quealy Winemakers is a pioneering force on the Mornington Peninsula, established in 2006 by the husband-and-wife team of Kathleen Quealy and Kevin McCarthy. Renowned for being the first to successfully commercialise Pinot Grigio in Australia at their former estate, they have used Quealy as a platform for deeper experimentation. Today, with their son Tom McCarthy as head winemaker, the estate remains at the forefront of the region’s artisanal movement, focusing on certified organic viticulture and the championing of Northern Italian varieties that were previously unseen in the cool-climate maritime landscape of Victoria.

The heart of the operation is their "Home Block" in Balnarring, originally planted in 1982, which provides some of the Peninsula's oldest Pinot Noir and Riesling vines. The family manages a diverse portfolio of vineyards across various subregions, from the iron-rich red loams of Tussie Mussie in Merricks North to the high-altitude, windswept Musk Creek in Main Ridge. This site-specific approach allows them to produce a wide stylistic range, moving from the structural and "brooding" Seventeen Rows Pinot Noir to vibrant, aromatic field blends that capture the unique microclimates of the Peninsula. They also have a side project called MDI which they source Italian varieties from around Mildura.

In the cellar, Quealy is celebrated for its low-intervention and "lo-fi" philosophy, frequently utilising skin contact, spontaneous fermentation, and clay amphorae. They were among the first in Australia to embrace "amber" or orange wines, particularly with the Friulano variety, while maintaining a commitment to crystalline purity in their more traditional bottlings. The result is a house style that prioritises texture, energy, and a sense of place, cementing their reputation as one of the most intellectually curious and respected producers in the country.