One world-renowned distillery + one famed Australian vineyard.
Introducing Four Pillars Single Vineyard Applejack Bloody Pinot Noir Gin 2025
A combination of two of the greatest drinks to come out of the Yarra Valley, gin and pinot noir, made by two local lady legends, is coming in time for gift giving and celebrations this November: Four Pillars Single Vineyard Applejack Bloody Pinot Noir Gin 2025.
With its cool climate, the Yarra Valley grows some pretty special Pinot Noir, and Four Pillar’s friends over at Giant Steps have been leading the way since 1997, producing some of the Yarra Valley’s, and Australia’s, best wine.
Four Pillars Head Distiller, Sarah Prowse and Melanie Chester, Head Winemaker at Giant Steps, worked tirelessly to combine the best of the Yarra Valley in one gorgeous crimson bottle, to craft this, the fourth in the Single Vineyard Gin series for Four Pillars.
The Applejack Vineyard, planted by great Ray Guerin, has long been regarded as one of Australia’s finest and most-awarded single Pinot Noir vineyards and serendipitously, Sarah worked at Giant Steps before joining Four Pillars. This luxury duo was meant to be. Did we also mention that Giant Steps was named 2025 Halliday Winery of the Year and the 2024 Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir just took out the 2025 Pinot Noir Challenge?
Sarah said: “Giant Steps was a big part of my life, and I’ve always had a soft spot for the fruit that comes off the Applejack Vineyard. It’s east facing, so it’s slower ripening than the others sites creating more intense fruit with delicate tannins. I literally had to beg Melanie to sell us a small parcel of fruit!
“Luckily vintage started early thanks to a warm, dry spring and summer with bunches well formed, slightly smaller and tighter. Melanie and I worked closely picking out the best block as we soak the whole fruit which adds an amaro characteristic to the gin, balancing out the ripe red berry sweetness of the grapes.
“Its appearance is rich purple, with incredible depth. Its intensity of character is highlighted with notes of raspberry, blackberry, and hints of briar. The palate is succulent with grippy tannins from both ripe seeds and stems. These elements add to an overall beautifully balanced, almost amaro style pinot gin, that is both succulent and botanically bright.”
To make this year’s Applejack Bloody Pinot Noir Gin, Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin was aged in a 500-litre puncheon. When the fruit arrived from the vineyard, the distilling team soaked the whole-bunches, seeds, stems and all, in 60% ABV Rare Dry Gin gin for six weeks, all the while gently hand-plunging. The macerated liquid was then pressed off and put into stainless steel before bottling.
Simple: Enjoy the Applejack Bloody Pinot Noir Gin on the rocks.
Fancy: In very fancy Gin Sour with XXXXX
Other Four Pillars Single Vineyard Releases include Four Pillars Barrel Aged Bloody Underhill Shiraz Gin XXXXXX
Four Pillars Single Vineyard Applejack Bloody Pinot Noir Gin 2025 will be available for $175 to the Four Pillars email database from 18 November and to the public from 20 November online at www.fourpillarsgin.com and the Four Pillars Healesville Distillery Gin Shop.