a view of the Heggies Reserve vines from across the Heggies dam

Winemaking at Heggies

Our Vineyard and Philosophy


Marc van Halderan


For Marc, the road to Eden Valley might’ve started a world away in South Africa, but like the best journeys, it led him home.

Marc grew up in Stellenbosch and graduated with Honours in Winemaking and Cellar Technology from Elsenburg College in 2004. His early career saw him getting his hands dirty in some of the world’s great wine regions - from the cool slopes of Constantia and Walker Bay, to the storied vineyards of Burgundy and the Loire. It was there his love for purity, elegance and a well-balanced Chardonnay truly took off.

In 2013, after a chance meeting with an Aussie and a gut feeling that he was onto something good, Marc landed in the Barossa. A vintage with Yalumba turned into a full-time gig with Hill-Smith Family Estates, where he honed his craft under Chief Winemaker Louisa Rose.

His Time at Heggies


His cool-climate whites and sparkling wines earned accolades, and his understanding of the land deepened when he took on grape sourcing across Australia's patchwork of vineyard sites. Marc officially joined the Heggies stable in 2021 - a vineyard with a story as rich as the soil it’s planted in. Here, he brings his precision, passion and playful spirit to every Heggies wine.

Chardonnay is still his first love, and Eden Valley’s long, cool ripening season gives him all the time in the world to get it just right. These days, Marc calls Angaston home, where he lives with his wife Carolyn and son Maxwell James. When he’s not out in the vines, you’ll find him firing up the BBQ, glass of Chardonnay in hand, cheering on the Wallabies (unless they’re playing the Springboks). Because at the end of the day, no matter how far you travel, there’s no place like home - and for Marc, home is Heggies. ​

Single Vineyard Estate

Our Home in the Eden Valley


Embraced by 153-hectares of rugged Australian landscape, Heggies Vineyard is located in Barossa’s high country, next to Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park; a backdrop of iconic Australian gum trees, native vegetation and a large dam home to yabbies and birdlife. It’s all about sustainability. The Heggies team works hard to maintain natural balance through replanting of native vegetation and the encouragement of wildlife. The family-owned single vineyard is located in a lofty spot in the Eden Valley, more than 500 metres above sea level.

Our Hilltop Terroir


On misty mornings, clouds embrace the close-planted vines. Not only is it a beautiful (chilly) sight, the magical scenario imparts the cool climate qualities for which their bounty is adored. Add cooling breezes across the lake and shade provided by bountiful foliage and you’ve got unique microclimates and parcels of fruit that drive the characters in each wine. What’s going on below the earth’s surface is important too. A thin layer of grey sandy loam over clay and decomposed rock means the vines work harder; just like Aussie battlers of yore. As they compete (quite vigorously) for moisture and nutrients, determined to survive and prosper. It all means slower ripening and distinct but nuanced flavours. Mother Nature agrees; there’s no place like Heggies.

The Importance of Clones


Spend enough time at cellar doors or with winemakers and you’ll hear talk of clones. Not the human DNA kind, they're actually talking about grape clones (which is essentially a cutting from a plant to propagate a new vine). Heggies Vineyard is a patchwork of handkerchief-sized blocks and rows of clones, chosen to best reflect the diverse micro-climates throughout the 190-hectare site, 153 of which is native vegetation, the rest treasured vines. In addition to new hilltop Chardonnay plantings (95 and 76 clones) and Riesling, there’s the all-important close-planted Bernard (aka Burgundian and Dijon) clone of which Heggies Vineyard was a pioneer. In a nutshell, a clone has the ability to affect the way a wine smells and tastes. Each with a different character. The clones that call Heggies Vineyard home provide beautiful blending opportunities for exciting aromatics and flavour both in the winery and ultimately, the glass.