Welcoming Fleet Wines to the Vinify Portfolio
Lisa and Justin Jenkins’ Fleet is the result of two long-spanning careers’ worth of wine industry passion, culminating in 2016, when the duo returned to South Gippsland home. The name reflects their commitment to sourcing grapes from diverse regions. Crafted in small quantities, each bottle of Fleet captures a fleeting moment in time, celebrating place and variety.
Fleet wines can be found in some of Australia’s top venues, a testament to Lisa and JJ’s engagement with the trade. This acute understanding of the winemaking process, through to the final point of sale – a natural extension of their time in hospitality – is one of the special ingredients to their success.
On Lisa and JJ’s family vineyard, ‘Ever Rêve’, 4 hectares of close-planted vines thrive on Leongatha’s red volcanic ferrosols. They also lease a 35-year-old 4-hectare site across town. With the upcoming 2025 vintage being the first cropping year from their own vineyard, Fleet is transitioning from a part negociant, to what will be one of Gippsland’s most exciting new estates, thus reaffirming their commitment to the region.
Ultra-sustainable agriculture and winemaking is a given for every Fleet bottle. This considerate handling has allowed the wines to brilliantly express sub-regional and site characteristics. Each lo-fi release is exciting and occasionally unpredictable but always deliciously pure and fun.
Each bundle of fruit is approached with fresh eyes, drawing on their vast experience to explore wine's exciting possibilities.
Lisa’s background as a chef and sommelier, along with her wine show judging and pursuit of the WSET Diploma, infuses their wines with technical sophistication. Justin’s connection to South Gippsland shines through in their soulful wines.
The current suite of regional bottlings displays an unfiltered view of classic varieties from top-tier sites. These will be joined next month by the much-anticipated 2024 ‘Lichen’ wines.
We’re proud to share Fleet wines with our customers in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
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Vaite Teriierooiterai – Master of Wine Business, AWAC and WSET Diploma candidate