Melanie Chester
Giant Steps has been an outstanding Australian wine producer for a long time, but under winemaker Melanie Chester it has come to breathe rare air. The wines each year are structural, immaculate and routinely superb. Both Chester and Giant Steps are, both individually and together, a force in Australian wine. They are leaders.
Most years I sit down and taste the latest season’s wines with Chester. She’s as formidable as she is impressive. This image was taken after we’d tasted through the 2024 Giant Steps single vineyard releases.
—
Morning sun, filtered through early winter branches. I changed the texture of the wall in the background in post-processing for reasons that can best be summarised as it seemed like a good idea at the time. I think it helps to define Chester in the centre of the frame but I could be wrong. I like this image but there was a light on (camera right) in the corner of the room, which Chester offered to turn off. I answered, Nah, it should be right. I was wrong. This image would be better if that light had been turned off.
—
If ever you wanted to follow a range of wines, the single vineyard wines of Giant Steps are it. Particularly Applejack.
