Prior to Karen and Martin’s acquisition of the property in 2006 it was purchased in 1985 by Andrew & Vivienne McCutcheon.
In 1991 the McCutcheon’s sought advice from many of the early Mornington Peninsula wine pioneers and viticultural consultant Ian Macrae.
Macrae advised that the property was eminently suitable for grape growing, and advised that they get soil tests, and consider planting some 15 acres. In 1992 they commenced work on dams, water storage, irrigation systems, vineyard layout and earth works, completing initial planting in the spring of 1992.
1995 saw the first crop and the first wines being produced under Dromana and Stonier labels. Small amounts of wine were also made by Vivienne and Andrew under the Peninsula Ridge label until 1999 when Ten Minutes by Tractor was formed. The original Ten Minutes by Tractor cellar door was on the McCutcheon Vineyard until the new restaurant and cellar door opened just around the corner in 2006.
