Mount Pleasant (McWilliams)
Summary
Mount Pleasant is a historic Hunter Valley estate established in 1921, producing benchmark Shiraz and Semillon wines from some of Australia's oldest vineyards planted in red and brown clay loams over limestone. The winery combines traditional methods like open concrete fermentation for Shiraz with modern techniques, while maintaining Maurice O'Shea's pioneering vision through meticulous vineyard management that treats old vines as living artifacts of Australian wine history.
Heritage & Leadership
Mount Pleasant was established in 1921 when Maurice O'Shea, a French-trained winemaker, purchased the Hunter Valley property. O'Shea, who studied oenology at the University of Montpellier, recognized the potential of this land for producing exceptional wines. In 1932, the McWilliams family acquired the winery but made the pivotal decision to retain O'Shea as chief winemaker, allowing him to continue his visionary work until his death in 1956.
The McWilliams family maintained ownership of Mount Pleasant for nearly nine decades, developing it into one of Australia's most historically significant wine estates. In 2021, Accolade Wines acquired Mount Pleasant as part of their purchase of the McWilliams Wine Group. Throughout its history, Mount Pleasant has been guided by a succession of talented winemakers who have honored O'Shea's legacy while advancing the estate's winemaking approach. Chief winemakers like Brian Walsh, Phil Ryan, and Jim Chatto have each contributed to the evolution of Mount Pleasant's distinctive style while maintaining a connection to its historical roots.
Vineyards & Wines
Mount Pleasant's vineyards are situated in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, encompassing several historic vineyard sites. The Old Hill Vineyard, planted in 1880, contains some of Australia's oldest producing vines and is primarily dedicated to Shiraz. The Old Paddock Vineyard, established in 1921, and the Lovedale Vineyard, planted in 1946, are other significant sites within the estate's holdings.
The vineyards benefit from the Hunter Valley's unique terroir, characterized by red and brown clay loams over limestone. These soils, combined with the region's warm climate moderated by afternoon sea breezes, create ideal conditions for Mount Pleasant's signature varieties: Shiraz and Semillon. The estate produces several single-vineyard wines that express the distinct characteristics of each site, including the Maurice O'Shea Shiraz, Old Hill Shiraz, and Lovedale Semillon. These wines showcase the Hunter Valley's capacity for producing medium-bodied reds with savory complexity and age-worthy whites with remarkable structure and longevity.
Philosophy & Practice
Mount Pleasant's winemaking philosophy centers on expressing vineyard character while honoring traditional practices established by Maurice O'Shea. The winery employs both modern and traditional techniques, including open fermentation for red wines and gentle basket pressing. For their premium Shiraz wines, fermentation occurs in a combination of open concrete tanks and small format fermenters, followed by aging in French oak barrels of varying sizes and ages.
The estate's approach to Semillon production involves harvesting at relatively low sugar levels to preserve natural acidity, followed by temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks to maintain freshness and varietal purity. Mount Pleasant practices sustainable viticulture with a focus on soil health and water conservation. Their vineyard management includes careful canopy management to optimize sun exposure and air circulation while minimizing the need for chemical interventions.
The winery maintains a strong commitment to preserving their old vines, recognizing them as living artifacts of Australian wine history and sources of exceptional fruit concentration and complexity. This dedication to heritage, combined with precise winemaking, allows Mount Pleasant to produce wines that reflect both their historic legacy and the distinctive character of the Hunter Valley region.