Kyneton Ridge estate is an established winery destination, café and art space nestled in a beautiful rolling valley behind the township of Kyneton in the Macedon Ranges. The site features open grassy plains and woodland punctuated by large granite boulders and rocky outcrops typical of the Macedon and Heathcote wine making district.
Having purchased the property in 2018, the new owners undertook a significant renovation of the café, cellar door, arrival carpark, access road, winery making facility, vineyard and grounds through 2021/22.
RDLA were engaged as Landscape Architects on the project to assist with the initial site planning and masterplanning process to resolve key issues of accessibility, arrival to the cellar door and the integration of the new building with the adjoining visitor carpark and access road. Following planning approval, our role extended through two stages of construction and included the project management and contract administration of the landscape works to completion in March 2022.
The landscape design is response to both the simple, linear architectural form of the renovated winery building and the distinctive natural landscape character of the area. The arrival walkway has been carefully resolved with extensive site grading to allow the new building to rest gently in the natural landscape setting whilst facilitating the required compliant access to the cellar door.
A drystone wall, constructed by renowned local wallers, Kyneton Drystone Walling, features Tarradale spools sourced from a local quarry. The wall leads visitors to the winery door via a linear pathway which climbs gently, passing through large planted swathes of Tussock grasses (Poa labillardierii) and accented by clusters of granite boulders. A new terraced spotted gum deck extends out from the café dining space and commands expansive views across the vineyard to Black Hill Reserve, the valley and the rolling hills beyond.
