Marsh Estate

Written by Ian Robertson on 14th April 2005

Marsh Estate Order Form (PDF)

It may seem strange to feature Marsh Estate as the inaugural winery profile for the launch of a wine web site aimed at having mass appeal. To put this statement into context, I shall state a few facts.

Marsh Estate currently produces approx 6000 cases a year, which certainly does not make it a large producer. All of its production is sold through the cellar door and an extremely loyal mailing list, as well as a scattering of restaurants. If you drop into the cellar door, the Liquor Licence for the premises means that you can only buy 12 or more bottles of wine in a purchase. It is friendly and cozy, with plenty of barrels and wood, rather than glass and pressed steel. There are no recognised "icon" wines in the range either.

But, here's the thing. All of the above is exactly what makes Marsh Estate appealing in the homogeny of the current wine world. It also helps that year in, year out, the wines are made in a consistent style emphasising fruit character over winemaking trickery and representing good honest value for a small producer. It is the sort of producer you only really hear about through word of mouth.

The fact that Marsh exists right in the middle of arguably Australia's most commercial wine region, the Pokolbin area of the Hunter Valley, makes an interesting contrast to some of the operations that have sprung up around it. While it often seems that tourism is at the heart of most of the "Johnny-come-lately" operations that surround them, the Marsh family have continued to use a tried and true model, concentrating on keeping loyal mailing list customers happy. It is doubtful that there are any plans for golf courses, micro breweries or custom built churches in the future for the Marsh property.

Pokolbin was a bit different back when the Marsh family first bought what was then Quentin Estate, in 1978. What they had obtained was a vineyard that had been planted in 1971, and enough infrastructure to ensure that they could take an active role in all elements of production. All grapes are grown, crushed, fermented, matured and bottled at the vineyard. Marsh also makes it a policy of only using 'free run' juice (the juice obtained from the first crush) to ensure the highest quality wine with no compromise. This natural philosophy also extends to irrigation - the vines are 100% unirrigated, a rarity for Australian producers.

According to winemaker Andrew Marsh, this is all part of a philosophy that ensures that the wines "reflect the variety, vintage and the region. Nature has always been the catalyst for good winemaking - I do not intend to challenge its grace!"

The estate has approx 60 acres under vine, planted to Chardonnay, Semillon, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines produced each vintage vary according to the quality of the vintage and each parcel. See below for the current order form listing the current wines available.

Peter Marsh started to step aside from the winemaking duties twelve years ago, gradually involving son Andrew more and more. Andrew has been the principal winemaker for the last eight vintages, with no discernable change in style or quality in the transition, allowing Peter to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

It is doubtful whether the extreme growth of investment in tourist based cellar doors popping up around them will affect the Marsh family and their operation very much. They have a fiercely loyal customer base they have obtained without any fancy marketing tricks other than providing good, consistent products.

So, it stands to reason that Marsh Estate will continue to the beat of its own drum.

Marsh Estate

Deasys Road

Pokolbin, New South Wales, 2320

Telephone 02 4998 7587

See Marsh Estate for our reviews of Marsh Estate wines.