What began in 1970 as a weekend winemaking project in the Hunter Valley for three Sydney solicitors has gone on to become one of Australia’s most iconic wineries. Established by none other than James Halliday, Tony Albert, and John Beeston, Brokenwood started out as a part-time passion but bigger things beckoned and over the years, Brokenwood has boasted a roll call of winemakers to boot, notably current chief winemaker and managing director, Iain Riggs, who joined the team in 1982.

Iain shook things up on his arrival, introducing new winery equipment and the first white wines to the Brokenwood portfolio. Since then, Brokenwood’s reputation as a white winemaker has come to equal its one as a red wine producer, with its flagship ILR Reserve Semillon and Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz highly sought after around the world.

The wine region of Victoria has the highest number of grape vines than any other state in Australia. It is home to over 600 wineries and well known regions such as Yarra valley, Heathcote, and Rutherglen. Victoria is situated in the southeastern corner of Australia where due to the location, the climate has a cool maritime influence and is known for their outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, along with producing Australia’s most famed dessert Muscat and Topaque wines.

There are a number of different terroir levels throughout the wine region of Victoria which leads to the production of different ranges of wines. In the southern region of Victoria, the vines are regulated by the cool winds of the Bass Strait. Central Victoria consists of mostly flat terrain that tends to be drier and warmer than the rest of Victoria, which results in more fruit concentrated wines. It may be surprising to note that Victoria is the third most productive wine region in Australia, seeing as it does not have as many areas suitable for viticulture, which has resulted in the cellar door culture of Victoria being concentrated with smaller, but more personal boutique wineries.