Recent Award Winners

Awards won 

“Best in Region” Chardonnay Trophy at the 2024 James Halliday Australian Chardonnay & Cabernet Challenge. 

Best Chardonnay Trophy at the Tumbarumba Wine Show

Best Wine of Show Trophy  at the Tumbarumba Wine Show

Gold Medal at the Royal Queensland Wine Show.

Bronze Medal at the Royal Sydney Wine Show 2025, 87 points.

Another fine example of the wine that can be made from the cold climate region of Tumbarumba. We have been making Chardonnay from this region for over 30 years. 

Our 2023 Classic Chardonnay from Tumbarumba presents as follows:

Appearance: The wine has a pale to medium straw-yellow color with hints of green, showcasing its youth and freshness.

Aroma: Aromas are delicate and refined, featuring notes of green apple, citrus, and pear, with a subtle mineral undertone. The cool climate of Tumbarumba enhances the retention of natural acidity, providing a zesty backdrop to the aromatics.

Taste: On the palate, you'll notice a crisp and vibrant acidity that gives the wine a lively and refreshing quality. The French oak fermentation and aging impart a creamy, buttery texture, along with nuances of vanilla, toasted nuts, and a touch of spice. This combination of flavors creates a well-balanced and complex profile.

Fruit Characteristics: Chardonnay grapes from Tumbarumba exhibit citrus notes like lemon and grapefruit, along with green apple and unripe pear. The cool climate helps retain the grape's natural fruitiness while preserving a bright acidity.

Mineral Undertones: Tumbarumba's terroir contributes mineral qualities to the wine, with subtle hints of wet stones, flint, or chalk, adding to the wine's depth.

Oak Influence: The use of French oak barrels in fermentation and aging imparts a gentle but noticeable oak character. You might detect flavours like vanilla, butterscotch, and toasted oak, which are integrated harmoniously with the fruit and other elements of the wine.

Finish: The finish is long and satisfying, with a crisp acidity and a creamy texture, leaving a lingering impression of citrus, oak, and mineral notes.

Food Pairing: This Chardonnay pairs excellently with a range of dishes, such as grilled seafood, roasted poultry, or creamy pasta dishes. Its bright acidity can cut through richer sauces, and its buttery texture complements a variety of flavors.

In summary, our 2023 Tumbarumba Chardonnay again excels. It combines the region's cool climate characteristics with the elegance of oak aging, resulting in a balanced and sophisticated wine that is rich in both fruit and oak-derived nuances.

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Awards won

Gold Medal at the Royal Sydney Wine Show 2025, 95 points.

A captivating fusion of two Spanish grape varieties, influenced by the unique terroir of the Hilltops and the complexities of oak maturation.

Here's how such a blend presents:

Colour: Deep garnet with hints of violet at the rim, suggesting youthfulness and vibrancy.

Aromas: The wine does offer a complex and aromatic bouquet that combines the attributes of both Tempranillo and Graciano. Look for ripe red fruit aromas like cherry and raspberry from the Tempranillo, along with a touch of black fruit complexity from the Graciano. Subtle floral notes and a hint of dried herbs might also emerge. The French oak aging does add layers of vanilla, toasted spices, and a touch of smokiness.

Palate: On the palate, the blend might showcase a medium to medium-full body with a rich yet balanced character. The red and black fruit flavours from the nose does transition seamlessly to the palate, accompanied by a harmonious interplay of sweet and savoury elements. The oak aging does contribute a velvety texture and well-integrated tannins.

Oak Influence: French oak maturation does introduce layers of complexity, seamlessly melding with the grape characteristics. Expect elegant vanilla, subtle toasted notes, and a gentle spice that enhances the wine's profile without overshadowing the fruit.

Structure: The wine's structure is supported by the natural acidity of the grapes and the textural contributions of both Tempranillo and Graciano. The balanced tannins does provide a sturdy yet supple framework.

Finish: The finish is long and lingering, with the wine's ripe fruit flavours and oak-driven nuances continuing to evolve on the palate.

Food Pairing: The blend's versatility makes it well-suited for a range of dishes. Consider pairing it with Spanish-inspired cuisine, such as paella with chorizo and seafood, or grilled meats with smoky spices. It does also complement Mediterranean dishes, roasted vegetables, and aged cheeses.

Ageability: The balance between fruit, oak, and structure does give this blend the potential for aging. It might evolve over the years, gaining additional complexity and depth.

Overall Impression: Our 2023 Tempranillo Graciano offers a captivating and intriguing wine that marries the unique characteristics of two distinct grape varieties with the influence of terroir and oak maturation. The result is a wine that embodies the best of both worlds, delivering complexity, depth, and a touch of elegance to those seeking a unique and memorable experience.

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With some of the finest fruit, grown just outside of Young & Boorowa in the Hilltops region, our classic Cabernet Malbec blend is a classic varietal example of these two flavour powerhouses. This 2022 was a cooler year in a cool climate region and presents as...

Appearance: The wine would likely display a deep, rich ruby color with purple hues, indicating its youthfulness. Its viscosity might be moderate to high, suggesting a certain richness and concentration.

Aroma: On the nose you'll encounter a complex array of aromas. The Cabernet component could contribute notes of blackcurrant, and capsicum or mint. The Malbec, on the other hand, might add layers of ripe plum, blueberry, and floral nuances. The integration of French oak imparts additional complexities, such as subtle vanilla, cedar, and spice undertones.

Taste: As it hits your palate, the wine showcases a harmonious balance between its varietal components and oak influence. The Cabernet's firm tannins provide structure and grip, while the Malbec's softer, silkier tannins contribute to a plush mouthfeel. Expect a medium to full-bodied wine with a generous fruit expression, featuring flavours of dark berries, and a touch of blackcurrant leaf. The acidity is vibrant, providing freshness and ensuring a good aging potential.

Finish: The wine's finish is long and lingering, with the fruit flavors slowly tapering off, leaving a pleasant sensation of dark chocolate or espresso on the palate. The tannins, while present, are be well-integrated, contributing to a structured finish without overpowering the fruit.

Overall Impression: Our 2022 Cabernet Malbec from the Hilltops, is a fine example of the region's viticultural prowess harnessed by our winemaking skills. It offers a compelling combination of varietal expression, terroir influence, and skilled oak integration, making it a wine worthy of both immediate enjoyment and potential cellar aging.

Awards won:

Silver Small Winemakers show      Silver NSW wine awards

Silver Royal QLD Wine show

Appearance: The wine has a deep, intense colour with vibrant ruby to purple hues. This richness in colour is often a hallmark of Malbec wines.

Aroma: On the nose, you find a delightful bouquet of dark fruit aromas such as blackberry, plum, and black cherry. There is also be hints of floral notes, such as violets, as well as subtle spice undertones like black pepper or a touch of vanilla from oak aging.

Taste: When tasting the wine, you experience a medium to full-bodied palate, with a smooth and velvety texture. The prominent flavours revolve around dark fruits accompanied by a mix of blueberry and mulberry. There are some oak-driven flavours, such as cedar or toasty elements.

Tannins: This wine has moderate to firm tannins, which can add structure and complexity to the wine. In a 2022 Hilltops Malbec, the tannins are well-integrated, providing a balanced mouthfeel.

Acidity: Given the Hilltops region's cooler climate, the wine displays a refreshing acidity that contributes to its overall brightness and age-worthiness.

Finish: The finish is satisfyingly long, with the fruit and spice notes lingering on the palate.

Overall, a 2022 Malbec from the Hilltops region of Australia is a flavourful and expressive wine, reflecting the unique terroir and climate of the area. It should be enjoyed in its youth, but with its structural components and quality, it has the potential to age gracefully over several years.

The Hunter Valley is Australia’s premium Shiraz region.  Sweetwater Estate shiraz grapes are hand-picked on land that has been the setting since 1844, for one of the oldest known vineyard sites in the Lower Hunter Valley.

Grown in ancient red soils, nourished by local clear waters and blessed by Australia’s abundant and constant sunshine.

Latest Wine Show Results

4x Trophies l 1x Gold Medal - Hunter Valley Wine Show 2025

• The Doug Seabrook Memorial Trophy for Best Red Wine of Show
• Len Evans Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Red
• Hector Tulloch Memorial Trophy for Best Shiraz
• Stibbard- Hulin Trophy for Best Two-Year-Old Shiraz

96 Points

"An aromatic, robust yet classically styled shiraz with outstanding fruit concentration and class. Deeply coloured, it holds its cards close to its chest at first but, with air, it becomes magnificent. Plush, inky blood plums are wrapped in a matrix of complex tannins that build from the mid-palate. Adding intrigue is a faint sanguine note, along with fragrant potpourri and dried dark cherry. It is a dark and serious wine of character and depth destined to evolve beautifully with time. Decant vigorously if drinking young."

Halliday Wine Companion, Toni Paterson

Published 19 June 2025

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Crafted from the finest parcels of our iconic Sweetwater Vineyard, our 2023 Epic Shiraz pays tribute to the Hunter Valley's rich terroir and generations of winemaking expertise.

Hand-plunged twice daily during fermentation, our fruit undergoes meticulous extraction, resulting in a wine of unparalleled depth and character. Aged for 16-18 months in French oak barriques, Epic Shiraz showcases our commitment to quality.

Since 2017, our chief winemaker has focused on sourcing the finest fruit from premium NSW regions, ensuring only the best for Epic. With soils akin to terra rossa, our vineyard offers gentle morning sun exposure for concentrated flavours.

Experience the epitome of excellence with Epic Shiraz – a celebration of our winemaking heritage and unwavering commitment to quality.

A unique and intriguing expression of this lesser-known grape variety. Pinot Meunier is one of the three main grape varieties used in Champagne production, and when crafted as a single vineyard wine, it can showcase the distinct characteristics of both the grape and the terroir.

Here's how a single vineyard Pinot Meunier from Tumbarumba in 2024 presents:

Colour: A translucent ruby hue, with hints of purple, reflecting the grape's inherent lighter Colour and potential for elegance.

Aromas: The wine does offer a captivating bouquet of red fruit aromas. Look for vibrant notes of red cherries, wild strawberries, and raspberry. Floral undertones, reminiscent of rose petals or violets, might also be present, adding a layer of fragrance to the aroma profile.

Palate: On the palate, the Pinot Meunier exhibit a medium body with balanced acidity. The red fruit flavours noted on the nose does carry over to the palate, accompanied by subtle hints of cranberry and pomegranate. The wine's texture is smooth and silky, enhancing its overall elegance.

Earthiness: Tumbarumba's terroir contributes a subtle earthy component to the wine's profile. Look for hints of forest floor, dried leaves, or a subtle minerality that adds complexity to the fruit-driven character.

Structure: Depending on the winemaking techniques, the wine's structure might include fine-grained tannins that contribute to a pleasing mouthfeel and potential for aging.

Finish: The finish is medium in length, with the wine's vibrant fruitiness and earthy undertones lingering on the palate.

Food Pairing: Pinot Meunier's delicate nature and versatility make it a great companion for a variety of dishes. It does pair well with dishes that incorporate poultry, particularly duck, as well as roasted game birds. Its acidity and fruitiness does also complement dishes with earthy components, such as mushroom-based dishes or truffle-infused creations.

Overall, a single vineyard Pinot Meunier is a captivating exploration of this grape's potential outside of the Champagne region. Its delicate yet expressive nature, combined with the influence of the Tumbarumba terroir, does create a wine that offers both elegance and depth, making it a compelling choice for enthusiasts of nuanced and intriguing wines to drink now.