Pegeric was founded in 1987 by Chris Cormack and named in honour of his parents, Peg and Eric. Eric, a distinguished Australian sportsman and leading Victorian racehorse auctioneer, later established one of Melbourne’s first licensed grocery stores, where Chris developed his early interest in wine.

Chris formalised his passion in 1980 by studying Viticulture at Riverina College (now Charles Sturt University), becoming its second-ever graduate and training under Dr Max Loder, the renowned “Father of Pinot Gris” in Australia. After extensive study tours and vineyard work across Europe and the USA, Chris returned home intent on creating something of his own.

Despite warnings that it was “too cold for grapes,” he purchased a small site high in the Macedon Ranges and began pioneering cool-climate viticulture. Working multiple jobs to fund the project – including at Daimaru, Crown Casino, and later Qantas, where he helped develop the “Sommelier in the Sky” program – he established the vineyard using innovative methods such as dry-growing and straw mulching long before they became common practice.

Today, his forward-thinking approach has been rewarded with numerous trophies and gold medals at major Australian and international wine shows.