Steels Gate Winery

The Steels Gate Journey

Steels Gate Home Block Vineyard sits at 230 m above sea level on gentle, undulating slopes of friable grey loam soil. Originally planted in the late 1970s, the site has a rich history but had fallen into disrepair when Matthew and Brad purchased it in 2009. Overrun with blackberries and neglected vines, it presented a clear challenge: to restore it to its former glory, once again producing exceptional fruit for award-winning wines. Today, this is the site of the Steels Gate winery. Bordered by the Kinglake National Park, the Home Block is planted equally to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

It is completely unirrigated and carefully hand-tended, reflecting our commitment to traditional, sustainable viticulture. In 2017, Matthew and Brad decided it was time to grow their business and step away from corporate life. After exploring their options, they found an incredible property for sale in Dixons Creek—a vineyard with a restaurant and cellar door—which they purchased in early 2018. This acquisition tripled the size of their estate. In addition to more Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the new site expanded their varietal range to include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and a small planting of Cabernet Franc and Merlot now used in their single-barrel releases.

At Steels Gate Wines, we prioritise environmental sustainability in every aspect of our work—from vineyard management to final wine production. Both of our vineyards are dry-grown using a “minimal intervention” approach that includes predominantly organic fungicide sprays and no herbicides or pesticides. Matthew has led research into innovative, sustainable methods of weed suppression, fundamentally transforming the way we manage our blocks. Organic fertilisers and green manure crops are also used to naturally replenish essential minerals in the soil.