The 2017 Halliday Wine Companion gives two Ballarat vineyards five-star classifications: Eastern Peake at Coghills Creek and Tomboy Hill at Black Hill.

Owen says he hadn’t been made aware of how well he and his parent’s vineyard had done in the renowned wine rating system.

“To be honest, 2016 was such a cruel year, and yet our wines came through with great complexity and depth,” said Mr Latta.

“We had never harvested so early before. It was six weeks earlier than usual. It was the driest lead-up to a vintage ever.”

Eastern Peake has been making a name for itself of late with new varietals coming onto its list. It was established in 1983 with plantings to pinot noir and chardonnay, which was an unlikely consideration in the Ballarat region, but one that was sanctioned by Trevor Mast, a pioneer of cool climate viticulture, who looked over the site prior to planting.

“We really are seeking to match our wines to the climate here, and to the conditions’”said Mr Latta.

“It’s good that the hard work of my parents and their determination to follow the advice they were given in what grapes to grow has resulted in recognition like this.”

Reviewer Max Bennie said of Eastern Peake’s pinot, “in Latta’s wines there is an undeniable freshness, vitality and purity to fruit which appeals greatly, and might just say something about his unique Ballarat location.”

Two of Eastern Peake’s pinot noir scored 96 & 95 in Halliday’s ratings; and five other wines over 90 points. Other Ballarat and region vineyards to do well were Mt Coghill with its chardonnay and pinot noir both scoring 91 points, Nintingbool with their shiraz scoring 95 points, and Tomboy Hill with two chardonnays scoring 95 points and a pinot noir with 93 points.

Other local vineyards received point scores in the high 80’s. There are now 33 vineyards within a 30km radius of the city, according to Wine Ballarat.