Balgownie's Yarra Valley vineyards were planted in 2003 to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a view to exploiting the slow ripening temperate climes and rich soils of the region for the creation of exquisite and stylish sparkling wines. Vinified to a combination of new and old world winemaking techniques, the tradtional cepage of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is partially barrel fermented in seasoned oak before being treated to a term of extended lees contact, infusing the palate with rich yeasty brioche characters and refined textural creaminess.

The emergence of Balgownie Estate as a preminent winemaker in the 1970s led to the rapid expansion of the central goldfields wine growing region and was a significant player in the rebirth of the Victorian wine industry as a whole. In 1999, fine wine enthusiasts Des and Rod Forrester assumed proprietorship of Balgownie and set about updating the vineyards and winery. The Forresters embarked on a search for the idyllic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir site, eventually identifying a property in the Yarra Valley where they established seven hectares of closely managed vines. Crafted to Methode traditionelle, Balgownie Brut is rested on sediments before completing secondary fermentation in bottle.