Patrick Sullivan

Patrick Sullivan has one single mission: to hand-craft Australia’s most expressive Chardonnay, revelling in wines that are inspired by emotion, a moment in time and a sense of place.

Since the first vintage in 2013, Patrick Sullivan has built an enviable reputation for premium Chardonnay with precision. Not one to follow the path well-trodden or conform, Patrick Sullivan is focused on forging his own destiny, often operating on the fringes, and constantly pushing boundaries in the pursuit of excellence.

Many wine producers go on a journey, sometimes taking them far away from where they started. Each journey is different and is dependent on the direction, sensibilities and philosophical and ethical framework of the producer. These are the values that underpin many
great and much-loved wines around the world and are principles to which Patrick Sullivan holds true.

Nestled in the wild, untamed cool-climate Gippsland region in Victoria, the spiritual home of Patrick Sullivan is wedged between mountain and sea, a vast expanse that traverses an array of landscapes and microclimates, producing wines with structure and elegance.

It is here that two indomitable passions converge. Chardonnay, and volcanic soils. Two ideals that have shaped Patrick Sullivan into what is today.
The goal is to always express the uniqueness of the land. Chardonnay, a grape which transmits its place with precision and complexity, is the one noble grape variety that produces premium expressions the world-over and innately reflects its sense place. A variety that captures a particular site, at a particular time of year and tells
the story of the vineyard.

For Patrick Sullivan, these vineyard stories must be rich with ancient volcanic soils. Whether it be Tumblestone Farm, 170 acres of prime Gippsland earth at the base of the Strzelecki ranges, rich with red volcanic soils and
twitchy weather patterns, or vineyard sites within the Baw Baw Shire including Millstream, Manilla, Bullswamp and Camp Hill, the common thread is volcanic soils. The mineral-rich subsoil and its warming components imparts ripeness and maintains balance, freshness and
acidity – all hallmarks of the world’s most coveted Chardonnay’s.

This laser-focus dedication to soil, site selection and viticulture was nurtured early on in Patrick Sullivan’s university studies, electing to study viticulture rather than oenology, which led to what would prove to be two life learnings.

The first, that the fruit must always be the focus. Great wines are made in the vineyard – be as honest as you can to the vineyard. It’s not about ‘minimal intervention’, rather ‘maximum intervention’ in the vineyard. Pruning, leaf thinning, being out in the vineyard all the time to ensure the resultant wine is as reflective of the site as
possible at that time and at that place. And secondly, after studying the benefits of its climate and noble red volcanic soils, was identifying that Gippsland - and in particular the Baw Baw Shire - was extremely well suited to premium, single-site Chardonnay.

With a newfound direction, the essence of Patrick Sullivan was born. Gippsland, however, was very much an emerging region with one producer of note, William Downie. Soon enough, Patrick was toiling away in the
William Downie vineyards, and for two seasons worked the vines, sleeping in a swag underneath a peppercorn tree and living out of a two-door hatchback when the weather turned.

After two seasons, William Downie offered Patrick a vineyard role in new project Thousand Candles in the Yarra Valley. Over the coming years, Patrick perfected his craft and developed an innate and intuitive understanding of sustainable farming practices.

Following the ‘Yarra years’ Patrick experimented with a number of projects, eventually launching Patrick Sullivan, which quickly gathered a loyal following and garnered acclaim both at home and abroad. This coincided with a move back to Gippsland, and the purchase of the long-admired Tumblestone Farm. Seeking inspiration, Patrick
got ‘back on the land’ and concentrated on farming and his small holding of vines, whilst simultaneously rediscovering great Chardonnay wines, purchasing and tasting widely, visiting properties, hatching plans, seeing the future for himself and his family in the region.

Today, the future shines bright as Patrick Sullivan continues on his Chardonnay journey.