The wines are quite literally, hand made, mainly using small open fermenters (of three to four tonnes capacity) for the red wines, while the white wines are barrel fermented. Notwithstanding the increasing production, there has been and will be no significant change in the winemaking techniques or philosophies inherent to Coldstream Hills.
While the cool climate of the Yarra Valley is clearly unsuited to the making of fortified wine, it is particularly suited to the growing of grapes for fine table wine. Using the Heat Degree Day system of measurement, Healesville has an index of 1158, marginally warmer than Dijon (Burgundy, France) at 1115, but cooler than Bordeaux (France) at 1238, and significantly cooler than Coonawarra (Australia) at 1259.
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