Giant Steps: One Of Our New Favourites

Review

Address: 336 Maroondah Highway, Healesville VIC 3777

Varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot

Experience

Living up to its namesake, Giant Steps recently undertook some mammoth strides towards independence – by separating from their entry level label Innocent Bystander. Now a singular entity, they are able to focus on continuing to deliver the premium-quality, award-winning wines they’ve become known for.

Giant Steps has regrouped as a sleek and sophisticated outfit that adds quite the elegant touch to the Yarra Valley, and we here at Wine Compass are all for it.

Wines

As it currently stands, Giant Steps’ wines have won more than 19 trophies and 50 gold medals from international and national wine shows. It’s quite the remarkable feat, but hardly a surprising one if you’ve ever had the pleasure of sampling their varieties.

Their Pinot Noir in particular puts them on the map, with a number of single vineyard wines that recall the Premier Cru approach of Burgundy. Their total output is around a dozen wines each vintage including a similar top range of Chardonnay.

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Food

After splitting off with Innocent Bystander, Giant Steps acquired the restaurant on-site as their own, rebranding it to fit their overall luxury motif. Their restaurant mainly focuses on sharing plates delivered through a modern dining setting, all of which is set at an unsurprisingly high standard.

Setting

The recent revamp of Giant Steps makes quite the impression. There’s a modern and elegant energy to the place that will make you feel transported far from some of the touristic hustle and bustle of some other well known wineries

Unlike many other Yarra Valley estates they don’t have rolling hills of vineyards to rely on for atmosphere, but the work they’ve put into their on-site working winery, barrel room, and cellar door (which is partly within the barrel room) well makes up for it.

What we like

The food, the wine, the atmosphere; Giant Steps really has it all. They have a true passion for excellence and it certainly shows, making this place a delight to visit each and every time.

What we don’t like

So far, it’s hard to fault Giant Steps. We do predict that it will get busy once word gets out, but for now we’re just enjoying everything about it.

Read more about wineries in the Yarra Valley or return to the Tours page.