Winery & Vineyard

Lost Lake nestles in the valley of Eastbrook, an area identified by Dr John Gladstones (Senior Agronomist, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia) as being an excellent area for wine grape production due to the higher altitude and rich loamy/gravel soils. The area also receives higher than average rainfall and has long warm days with cool nights.

The 8ha vineyard is dry grown and produces around 50 tonnes of high quality fruit each year, all of which goes into the Lost Lake distinctive Ammonite (shell) label. Lost Lake specialises in the cool climate varieties of Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot, Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. 2008 will see the release of two icon wines – the Barrel Select Chardonnay and Barrel Select Pinot.  

Most work in the vineyard is done by hand including leaf plucking, fruit thinning, tucking in and pruning. Guinea fowl provide substantial help with pest management and help us keep our vineyard in pristine condition. Keep an eye out for them from the Deck café.

Vintage is usually from late February through to the end of March though this can vary depending on the season. We use harvesters for most of our fruit but fruit for the premium labels is hand picked.

The Lost Lake Winery is a soaring cedar and limestone building that incorporates the Cellar Door and Deck Café within the same area. The winery faces east to catch the morning sun with the Cellar Door protecting it from the afternoon sun so it remains cool during the summer months.

The winery crushes approximately 50 tonnes of Estate grown fruit with a crush capacity of 200 tonnes. 2007 saw the crush at 150 tonnes – made up of Lost Lake fruit and custom crush for 5 other labels from the Pemberton/ Manjimup area. Using predominantly French oak for our Red wines and Chardonnays and Stainless Steel tanks for the whites, Lost Lake is developing a dominant place in the Pemberton wine area market.

WHY LOST LAKE?
In the 1920’s the government gave land to returned soldiers as part of a settlement scheme to open up areas in the country. Eastbrook, (the valley where Lost Lake is situated) was thick uncleared karri forest given to two brothers from England.

They camped by a natural lake down by the front gate for more than 12 months while they hand cleared the forest and turned the valley into a thriving farm. Over the years the lake dried up (hence ‘Lost Lake’) and the man made lake was built for irrigation. Now, in winter the original site of the lake still fills with water and provides a winter home for ducks, geese and other winter birds.