‘Young gun’ Yarra Valley wine producers in running for national award

The Yarra Valley’s reputation for its quality wine is in fine hands for the future, with two producers named finalists in a national award.

Jayden Ong and Shaun Crinion, from the Yarra Valley, are two of the 12 finalists of the Young Gun of Wine awards. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The Yarra Valley’s reputation for producing top class wine is in fine hands for the future, with two vintners named finalists in a national award.

Jayden Ong and Shaun Crinion are two of 12 finalists for the Young Gun of Wine awards.

While they make different wines, the two of them have similar loves in why they do it.

“I am very hands-on — I do everything by hand — I hand label, hand bottle,” Mr Crinion, of Dappled Wines, said.

“I like being in a vineyard, making the wines.”

The 38-year-old lives in Mt Martha but is based in Steels Creek — “The Yarra Valley is where my heart is”— and has made wine around the world, including France, California and across Australia before landing in the Yarra Valley in 2007, first making his own wine in 2009.

After winning the Halliday best new winery in 2018, Mr Crinion was “pretty chuffed” to be named a young gun finalist again.

Both Jayden Ong and Shaun Crinion praised the Yarra Valley for the quality of the fruit grown in the area. Picture: Wayne Taylor

And he’s pretty happy to have “a fellow Yarra guy” among the dozen.

Mr Ong’s introduction to wine came via a long and ongoing stint in hospitality, something which he regards as an advantage.

“I worked at a number of wine-orientated venues and had the opportunity to drink internationally great wines every day of the week,” he said.

“I learnt about great wine that way, but I like the mystery of learning about where that wine actually came from.”

Living in Mt Toolebewong and with his One Block winery in Mt Burnett, Mr Ong has the highest altitude vineyard in the Yarra Valley.

He said it was nice to be recognised for his work.

“There are certainly some very good winemakers in that group and to be seen in the same light as them is special,” Mr Ong said.

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But both were also quick to complement and encourage their prime source.

“If I didn’t have this amazing fruit in the valley to make wines from, it wouldn’t be happening,” Mr Crinion said.

“If someone is making great wine, it is because of the quality of the region and the fruit coming out of it.”

Mr Ong said there was “a renewed sense of energy in the Yarra Valley”.

“There’s a swath of exciting young winemakers making waves … and I think the weight of numbers can create a real shift,” he said.

For wine buffs wanting a sample of the action, public tastings will be at St Martins Youth Arts Centre in South Yarra on June 1 to determine the People’s Choice winner.