About Big Brook Wines Named after the dense and enchanting Big Brook Forest that borders the property, Big Brook Wines is passionate about producing limited quantities of distinctive cool-climate wines that reveal the unique regional qualities of Pemberton’s South West. Big Brook Wines was conceived in 2007 when the O’Toole family purchased the established ten- year-old vineyard. Today, the estate is managed, and wines are produced, by an expert team based in Western Australia’s South West, with an annual production of about 3,000 cases. Varieties grown include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot and cabernet sauvignon with future plans to establish pinot noir, semillon and shiraz. Big Brook is a promising young winery with limitless potential to create finely crafted cool-climate wines of distinction. The vineyard’s previous owners had supplied fruit to nearby Great Southern wineries across some well-known premium and commercial brands, securing confidence in the estate’s promising potential. Coupled with the cool maritime conditions afforded by the location’s unique micro-climate and close proximity to the Southern Ocean it presented a venture too good to refuse. Wines are named after the magnificent Big Brook Forest which borders the south side of the vineyard and is densely populated with majestic and towering Karri trees – hence Pemberton’s other namesake - ‘Karri-country’. The property’s appeal is stunning. A freshwater stream flows all year through the picturesque property into a private dam which is filled with an abundance of marron, a delicious freshwater crayfish and local delicacy known to complement the crisp, alluring qualities of cool-climate chardonnay and sauvignon blanc! Limited production of only 3,000 cases per year is intentional allowing an uncompromised focus on quality. The vineyard The vineyard is planted on Pemberton’s prime Karri-country land, with its ancient and fertile Karri-loam soils which are naturally well-drained. Substantial and dependable regional rainfall, coupled with the region’s excellent water quality means the vineyard can be confidently dry-grown to ensure maximum flavour concentration and structural intensity is imparted into loosely bunched, small berries. Yields are kept low, averaging around six to eight tonnes per hectare. The 30 hectare Big Brook property is seven kilometers from Pemberton’s town-site and enjoys a unique micro-climate - a direct result from the cool, moderating effects of the Southern Ocean that lies only 20 kilometers south of the property. The slightly higher altitude of the region is another key factor in the development of early ripening varieties that suffer little heat fluctuation during the growing season, again due to the moderating effects from nearby coastal influences. Slow, gradual and even ripening is what allows the fruit to develop layered complexity, good natural acid and most importantly, balance. The undulating property slopes to a central dam and is safely protected from the elements. There are two chardonnay plots planted along the forest fringe and the quality of fruit from the “young” chardonnay vines is exceptional. Already a multiple gold-medal winner, the Big Brook Reserve Chardonnay is made from the “young” chardonnay vines the success of which is attributable to a specific clone eminently suited to their micro-climate. The vineyard covers around 11 hectares and is planted with the following varieties: •    Chardonnay (+4 years old)    (2.40 hectares)    •    Chardonnay (4 years old)    (1.68 hectares) •    Sauvignon blanc         (1.38 hectares) •    Merlot             (1.55 hectares) •    Cabernet sauvignon         (2.5 hectares) Local viticulturist, Jason Howlett, has managed the Big Brook vineyard for over four years and brings 15 years’ experience in winemaking and viticulture to the fore. Jason’s viticultural influence has been applied to some of Western Australia’s leading wine companies, including Chestnut Grove, Fonty’s Pool and Goundrey Wines, and has been instrumental in developing and maximizing the potential of the Big Brook vineyard. Small plots of semillon, shiraz and pinot noir will be planted at the vineyard over the next two years. The Wines 2010 brings a change to the wine making team for Big Brook. This vintage will now be produced by Manjimup Wine Enterprises. Chief wine maker David Dowden formerly of Vasse Felix will craft the wines of Big Brook using the high quality fruit we provide. Big Brook’s winemaking philosophy is simple - good wines evolve from excellent vineyard practices and each wine is made to express the unique qualities presented by the region’s terroir. Though the wines will benefit from careful long-term cellaring, they are primarily made for enjoyment in the short to medium-term. Excellent fruit expression, balance and elegance result in quality wines consumers want to drink again and again. Fine-grained French and American oak is an integral part of the winemaking process and plays an essential role in many of the Big Brook wines. Exciting times are also afoot as Big Brook plans to introduce its inaugural blanc de blanc méthode champenoise sparkling wine later in the year. The intention again is to produce an iconic and affordable Western Australian sparkling wine from a distinguished cool-climate region. The region Wine critics and enthusiasts are keeping a close eye on Pemberton, thanks to its remarkable natural endowments, and growing epicurean reputation. Already gazetted as one of the country’s most promising new wine regions, it was Dr JS Gladstones who in 1977, noted the merits of Pemberton showing similar mean sunshine hours and idyllic climatic conditions to that of the great French wine region, Bordeaux. Western Australians hung on to this secret for 40 years, but Pemberton is now firmly on-track to rival some of the best wine regions of Australia. Situated in Western Australia’s lower south-west, the region lies just west of the Great Southern and south-east of the Margaret River wine regions. It is also Western Australian’s coolest wine region and receives on average winter and spring rainfall of 1198mm per year. Divinely favoured by its unique elevation and proximity to the coast where the cold Southern and warm Indian oceans meet, Pemberton enjoys near perfect maritime conditions for its benchmark varieties, chardonnay and pinot noir. In recent times, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, semillon and sauvignon blanc have also been identified as classic South West varieties. Pemberton is a four hour drive south of Perth and home to awe-inspiring Karri-trees which are among some of the tallest in the world - tourists will travel the globe to witness these majestic natural wonders. Some 85 per cent of Pemberton remains covered by native vegetation and the Karri-trees contribute to the fertile well-drained Karri-loam soils which have been documented as among the oldest soils in the world. This is a direct result of gneissic country rock found in the area. On the higher slopes around Pemberton, the soil tends to more lateritic gravelly sands and gravelly loams overlying medium clay with moderate water retention capacity.  Wine is not the only indulgence Pemberton has to offer. It is a gourmet food-lover’s paradise with local produce, fish, marron, truffles and a fine range of cafes and restaurants on offer. If Pemberton is not coveted as the jewel of the South West, then undoubtedly in time it will be!