By the Chalmers Family, Proudly Murray Darling
The Mother Block wines are the essence of the Chalmers story. They trace our history as growers, then makers, championing Italian varieties that are so suited to our climate, and to our lifestyle. They talk of our red sand and limestone soils and the big sky of our beloved Murray Darling region.
Our sustainably farmed Mother Blocks are not just the source of these wines, but also provide vine material to growers across the country.
Our Story
Chalmers have always been firmly rooted in the Murray Darling region, from the start of Bruce and Jenni’s winegrowing to the 30-plus-year story of the nursery and the importation of Italian cuttings.
Those vines were planted as our Mother Blocks, giving us the privilege of being the first Australian growers to tend scores of varieties.
The Mother Blocks are also why we started making wine. At first, it was a tool for the nursery to show the potential of the varieties.
But once we started making wine, we realised they were delicious, with properties that didn’t otherwise exist here. We couldn’t help but keep making wine.
And we haven’t stopped.
Winemaking also taught us about the viticulture best suited to making great wine in hot climates. And that combined experience has helped inform climate-apt choices for the Australian vineyard of the future.
Over 1.5 million vines have been supplied to growers across Australia. And that number is growing.
Our Murray Darling base is in Merbein, where the family home, winery and vineyard are located.
And the Mother Blocks are still central to everything we do, making Australian-first wines as new varieties arrive – think Falanghina just a few years ago, and Nerello Mascalese coming up soon.
The Mother Block wines are a celebration of our region and the varieties central to the Chalmers story.
They are our way of showing that growing the right varieties in the right place and applying appropriate viticulture can deliver accessible wines of personality, presence and a sense of place.
White
Mother Block White is a co-fermented field blend of the Mother Block Vineyard. Its style is bright, fresh and snappy with elements of the varieties that harmoniously meld together to deliver a delicious dry white wine giving you a sense of the place its grown and made.
With tangy aromas of fresh pineapple, dragon fruit, lemon zest, lime juice and almond milk. Its mouthwatering and refreshing with green crunchy pear, granny smith apple, honeydew melon, soft herbs and cool wet limestone to the finish.
BASED ON VERMENTINO AND FIANO WITH TOUCHES OF GRECHETTO, GRECO, GLERA AND PINOT BIANCO
Skin Contact
A white wine made like a red wine, the Mother Block Skin Contact lets you experience a style of wine that’s becoming more and more popular without veering too left of field.
A wine that is lively with pineapple, feijoa, guava and lashings of lemon and lime, Vietnamese mint and coconut water. In the mouth its bitter lemon, almond, hazelnut and pistachio with juicy cantaloupe, custard apple and a chalky, herbal grippy texture.
BASED ON VERMENTINO, ANSONICA AND PECORINO WITH TOUCHES OF FALANGHINA, MOSCATO GIALLO AND NOSIOLA
Rose
Classically dry, savoury and textural, the Mother Block Rose shows all those inviting and attractive aromas of strawberries, orange blossom, sandalwood, pink grapefruit and musk.
With red apple skin, pulpy brown pear, orange zest peel, floral and tangy pomegranate seeds, it finishes with you wanting more.
BASED ON SAGRANTINO, LAMBRUSCO AND VERMENTINO WITH TOUCHES OF DOLCETTO, GRACIANO AND NEBBIOLO
Red
The red varieties planted on the Mother Block Vineyard lend themselves to a bright, juicy and crunchy red wine that’s easy to drink while giving itself to a variety of occasions.
Lifted aromas of wild strawberries, plum, dark cherry, forest floor and mushrooms, the palate is full of cranberries, orange zest, cherry skin, star anise, tart plums and schezwan pepper leading to a moreish fine sandy finish keeping it light on its feet.
BASED ON NERO D’AVOLA, SAGRANTINO AND TEROLDEGO WITH A TOUCH OF SANGIOVESE
Sustainability
What makes it sustainable?
At Chalmers, sustainability is a holistic concept. Our Merbein vineyard and winery is certified with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, and our goals are to improve soil health, minimize water use, employ renewable energy, nurture the environment, be smarter with consumables, be economically sustainable, and be ethically responsible in the community.
Land
Our viticultural practices focus on soil health. For the past 15 years, we have increased the carbon content in our soils with applications of compost, mulch, humic acid, and seaweed.
As well as sequestering carbon, this greatly increases water-holding capacity and sustains beneficial microbial life.
Water
We work hard to minimise our water use. We choose the right varieties and rootstocks for drier conditions and irrigate more frequently but with less to eliminate run-off. Managing under the vine is critical to reduce water competition.
Non-residual herbicide is the most effective and sustainable method, with no take-up into the soil or vine. Our vineyard uses 30–50% less water than the region’s average.
Energy
In a region that thrives on sunshine, using solar power is paramount.
We produce close to 100,000 kWh per year, which covers up to 50% of our power use for irrigation and winery operations.
Nature
Our vineyard, on Njeri Njeri Country, is home to diverse plant species, which are home to beneficial insects and other fauna and flora in a balanced ecosystem.
It is also home to 500+ yeast strains, indicating that we are not impacting the surrounding environment, but rather creating a healthier one.
Consumables
Our wines are bottled in lightweight glass (25% lighter than the equivalent), using less energy to produce, less fuel to transport and leaving less glass to be recycled.
The labels are printed on 100% recycled material, and cartons are made of a lighter grade cardboard.
Community
The team at Chalmers is our extended family, a big beautiful multicultural crew that tends our vines, picks our grapes, makes our wine and shares our passion for growing great vines and wine.
We couldn’t do what we do without them. Chalmers also supports the community through sponsoring the arts, schools, sporting associations, and various charities to help our region grow and thrive culturally.
Bottom Line
We are proud of our heritage in the region, our contribution to the local economy, and our ongoing efforts to lift the value and perception of Murray Darling wine.
In our vision of sustainability, the economy of our business should not only allow us to invest in our vines and wines but also people and the environment.
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