Bicknell FC

David Bicknell is a 20 year veteran of the Yarra Valley, initially working for De Bortoli in 1992 and after a decade of service moved to take the reins at Oakridge. His tenure at Oakridge has seen him define the direction of Chardonnay not only in the Yarra but also Australia. With absolute intent to drive modernistic, Burgundian styling he creates wines which are lean, concen- trated and carry the hallmark solids reduction that many white burg afficionados chase with unrelenting desire. Gourmet Trav- eller had this to say of DB on receipt of the Annual GT Winemaker of the Year Award in 2017.

‘A passionate devotee of the Yarra Valley, a fervent pursuer of quality, a believer in the expression of unique vineyard sites and the architect of mesmerising, age-worthy wines with intricate layers and symphony-like harmony, David Bicknell, chief wine- maker at Oakridge, is celebrated for his substantial contribution to the Australian wine landscape.

Throughout his career, he has charted his own course when it comes to wine style, driven by the might of his convictions. He entered the wine industry at a time where big and bold meant better, but his astute palate lead him down an alternate path, where elegance, refinement and complexity were at the fore of his quest.

When swimming against the tide, the journey is never easy. Bicknell’s candid, and sometimes divergent, views have at times been polarising. However, he has successfully navigated his way to the point where his wines now do the talking. Focus, in its many guises, has been the hallmark of Bicknell’s success.’

Nicky Harris, a skilled viticulturist, initially worked at Henschke in the Barossa Valley after finishing at Roseworth. And then moved to Seppelt – both Great Western and Drumborg, and Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley. Her understanding of the sub regionality of the Yarra was pivotal in the early years of Bicknell FC when fruit was sourced from a range of interesting sites and then culminated in securing and managing the Applecross vineyard which now forms the loadstone of the Bicknell FC project.

The Applecross vineyard, originally planted by Val Stewart in 1988 is based in Gladysdale, toward the southern end of the Yarra at an elevation of around 350m. It’s soils are terra rossa over limestone and it is planted with 1Ha of Chardonnay and

1.5Ha of Pinot Noir at a density of 3,660 plants /Ha. Cropped low, it’s yields mean that the project is truly artisan and the wines as a result are absolutely magnificent.