Welcome to Provenance, a family wine company specialising in Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. From our early genesis to today, Provenance has always had the one simple objective: to make great wines that exhibit the fruit quality and terroir of special vineyards. For more than 25 years we have searched the southern and western Victorian regions of Geelong, Ballarat and Henty, seeking the best match of vineyard site (terroir) to the best grape varieties. It is the distinctive fruit we work with that enables the crafting of balanced wines known for their silky, elegant power. The seed that Provenance grew from was planted almost a decade before our establishment in 1996. Through the late 1980’s a tasting group of wine enthusiast mates, all who had worked in wine retail in Melbourne, often tossed around the idea of purchasing of a vineyard. It will come as no surprise that it was generally late in the evening when conversation turned in this direction. In 1996, an opportunity to purchase an existing Geelong vineyard presented itself when renowned Melbourne restaurateur Donlevy Fitzpatrick decided to divest himself of a Geelong vineyard. Scott Ireland had managed and made the wine from this block throughout Don’s tenure as owner. Whilst this purchase ultimately faltered, the genie was out of the bottle and 5 blokes financed the purchase, making and bottling of a 1997 Provenance Geelong Chardonnay, all of which was sold in the UK. The next few years saw the search on in earnest for fruit from the right sites to make the best wine. Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir & Shiraz were all produced but by vintage 2000 changed circumstances for the different individuals saw Scott Ireland buy out his mates (happily all still mates today) and forge ahead.
