Major Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
The Mt Hotham Racing Squad is a non-profit organisation supported by the voluntary labour of its committee members and dedicated staff. We thank all our sponsors sincerely for the essential support they all provide to the club, without whom we could not operate.
Should you like further information in regards to sponsorship, please contact Mark Laidlaw or Dave Reeves at info@mhrs.org.au
Major Sponsors
Babcock and Brown
Mt Hotham Skiing CompanySupporting Sponsors
The General
John Castran
Equipment Partners
Rossignol
Head
Atomic
Roof Carrier Systems
The Murray Darling Collection
The Murray Darling Collection (MDC) is an innovative winegrowing project exploring the cutting edge propagation and vinification of wine grape varieties and clones new to the Australian viticultural scene.
The MDC was instigated by owners Bruce and Jenni Chalmers, proprietors of Chalmers Nurseries and Paiko vineyards, and Sandro Mosele, one of Australia’s most respected winemakers. Together they set out to cultivate and vinify these new varieties and clones, some of which had previously not been made in Australia, others already with a face in the market. With the Chalmers’ extensive viticultural knowledge and experience and Mosele’s insightful winemaking skills the MDC philosophy was formed.
For over six years the Chalmers, through their nursery business, have been working on this groundbreaking project to import as many as 70 different clones and varieties of wine grapes into Australia from around the world. The primary focus is on Italian varieties with others from Spain, Argentina, the USA and South Africa. Italian oenologist and viticultural expert Alberto Antonini has advised the project on the selection of many varieties. They are selected on their potential suitability to Australian winegrowing conditions and sometimes on the basis of superior clonal selection.
Following harvest, the grapes are delivered to winemaker Sandro Mosele at Kooyong Winery on the Mornington Peninsula. Each parcel is fermented separately in order to study the progress of plantings and viticultural regimes. Sandro’s winemaking aims to reveal the inherent character of each parcel and adheres to a philosophy of minimal intervention. Natural yeasts are used and there is little use of new oak in any of the wines. Varietal character takes centre stage and winemaking is subtly integrated into each finished wine.
Gapsted Wines
The alpine influence is attributed to the altitude, cool alpine breezes, high rainfall and snow run off in spring providing abundant clear, fresh water. The water is naturally the coolest, clearest and cleanest with natural rivers, lakes and springs in abundance. These attributes combined with the cool nights contribute to unique climatic conditions of the King and Alpine Valleys.
The cool ripening conditions prevent high levels of transpiration thus allowing grapes to retain natural acids, sugars and esters creating intense, lifted fruit flavours.
The soft morning sunlight, essential for photosynthesis, is the most effective in producing the intense fruit characters. By shielding the grapes from the afternoon sun, using specifically developed canopy management systems, the protection of delicate fruit flavours is assured.
