The search for vineyards of special provenance began in the mid '90s when Scott Ireland settled in the Geelong region. Keen to work with excellent vineyards west and south of Melbourne, it didn't take long for him to realise that a great prospect existed. An opportunity to bring under the one umbrella, a patchwork quilt of vineyards where the match of grape variety to vineyard site produced great fruit.  Provenance Wines was born, the name chosen in recognition of the source vineyards.

A bright and pale white gold in the glass. Inviting aromas of lemon balm, chalk, daffodils, a faint almond meal from the lees, subtle oak, and flashes of fresh white nectarine. The palate is piquant and juicy, with mouth-filling flavours of ripe citrus, stone fruit, cashew, and a cool climate, almost saline, mineral streak. With a long palate and lingering flavours matched by a quenching natural acidity, it is hard to stop at one glass.

This is 50/40/10% Henty/Ballarat/Geelong. Whole-bunch pressed, settled overnight and racked to French barriques (20% new). An excellent intro to the first of four quite excellent chardonnays from Provenance in '22.. Stone fruits, orange blossom and a touch of spice lead onto the palate, which has super intensity, balance and structure for a wine at this price. Drink this while you wait for the regional wines to really hit their straps! Drink to: 2027; Price: $35.00; Date Tasted: December 2023; Alcohol: 13.2%; Rating: 93 Points & Special Value Star; James Halliday Wine Companion

Chardonnay from Ballarat, Drumborg and Geelong. The fleshiness of the fruit here is quite something. It feels welcoming and generous and more-ish. It tastes of stonefruit and citrus, nougat and cedar, hay and sweet, juicy pears. It has excellent linger, and interest, to the finish, and while it's easy to enjoy it's more than that; its quality is blatantly clear. Tasted: February 2024; Alcohol: 13.2%; Price: $35; Closure: Screwcap; Drink: 2024-2029; Rated: 93 Points; Campbell Mattinson; The Wine Front