The Heathcote wine growing region has rapidly gained a reputation as one of Australia’s finest red wine producing locations.

Whistling Eagle vineyard is situated on the ancient Cambrian soil and has an east-facing slope. These soils originate a few kilometres south of the Heathcote township and run in two parallel strips, which follow the Mount William Fault line. Whilst the strip of Cambrian soil is relatively narrow, it extends north of Heathcote for over 35 kilometres. It is the very special relationship between the soil and climate, which gives Whistling Eagle its unique qualities and the prefect reflection of the terroir.

Whistling Eagle is committed to sustainable winegrowing, biodiversity areas have been established, with flowering native trees and bushes to encouraging beneficial predatory insects to naturally control pests and support local fauna, particularly bee populations. Mid-row plantings of diverse sward, including native wallaby grasses and perennial rye, are maintained to enhance insect populations and promote soil health.​

The Rathjens are meticulous viticulturalists who understand the terroir of the district and realise that to produce extraordinary wines, yields must be kept low and the vines must be in balance with their environment. Spanning 50 hectares, the vineyard has a diverse array of grape varieties, ranging from Shiraz to Arinto, with 14 in total. First plantings took place in 1995 with vines sourced from local cuttings, while newer blocks, such as the 2016 ‘Three Little Eagles’, were established on various rootstocks to enhance yield diversity and water tolerance.

A respected and innovative winemaker, Ian Rathjen is dedicated to the creation of extraordinary Shiraz. Although modest in his manner, his approach to winemaking is uncompromising. The fruit is grown to perfection, with flavour profile and composition beautifully balanced to deliver the ultimate Shiraz experience.

A “terroir” is a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and winemaking savoir-faire, which contribute to give its specific personality to the wine.