Winemakers’ Lunches
Lunch at Cumulus Inc. is always memorable - taking an afternoon to bask in the light-filled surrounds of the dining room over a plate (and glass) of something delicious with friends.
The Winemakers' Lunch series was our annual celebration of the vineyards, farmers and local suppliers that bring joy, inspiration and exceptional wine to our restaurant. Hear directly from the winemakers behind some of the country's most acclaimed regions and discover the influences and stories behind each vineyard and vintage.
October Winemakers’ Lunch
with Dappled & Gembrook Hill
Sunday 18th October
On Sunday 18th October, we are welcoming two producers from Yarra Valley to the Upstairs Dining Room - Shaun Crinion of Dappled and Andrew Marks of Gembrook Hill.
Join us as we explore the geography, climate and traditions that make up the region’s unique terroir, and how this influences their winemaking.
Shaun Crinion, Dappled
Shaun Crinion's path into wine began by accident at 18, when he took a cellar-hand job at his uncle's winery to fund a surfing trip through California and Mexico. That vintage led to a decade of work across three continents, from Margaret River and Tasmania to the Russian River Valley and Burgundy. He founded Dappled in the Yarra Valley in 2009 to make high-quality, unadulterated wines from special sites, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. His approach is hands-off, using minimal added sulphur to encourage wild-yeast fermentation and only modest new oak. Dappled was named James Halliday's Best New Winery in 2018, cementing Shaun's reputation as one of the best small-scale producers in the modern Yarra Valley.
Andrew Marks, Gembrook Hill
Andrew Marks grew up among the vines his parents planted at Gembrook Hill in 1983, the first vineyard in the Upper Yarra Valley. Andrew's own path took him abroad, where he worked with Étienne Sauzet in Puligny-Montrachet and spent time in the Languedoc and Sonoma before returning to the family estate in 2005. His approach puts the site first, favouring restraint and balance and responding to each season instead of following a fixed recipe. Gembrook Hill's red volcanic soils, higher rainfall and late ripening produce wines known for finesse, elegance and aromatic detail. Andrew has carried his parents' pioneering legacy forward, earning Gembrook Hill a reputation as "the wine the winemakers drink."
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