Wine
The Anniversary Collection 2023
CELEBRATING OVER 600 YEARS OF COMBINED AUSTRALIAN WINE HISTORY
Australia’s incredible wine history is punctuated with wineries both large and boutique, established and emerging, traditional and modern – all of these making our world-class wine industry the huge success it is today.
Welcome to the celebration! Join us as we honour some very special wineries and their very special milestones. From the enduring icons Hardys and Drayton’s Family Wines to the rich heritage of Credaro and Goona Warra Vineyard, and the younger yet equally passionate and hard-working TarraWarra Estate and Irvine, this occasion is 615 years in the making and a journey to be commemorated.
Shop Anniversary Collection 2023
CREDARO… CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF COMMERCIAL WINE PRODUCTION IN MARGARET RIVER
The Credaro family celebrating 35 years.
The Credaro family have a distinguished heritage in Western Australia as a pioneering Northern Italian family who settled in Margaret River in 1922. Great grandfather Cesare purchased a parcel of land and with his broadaxe and a jersey cow, he set about making a livelihood in the fertile soil and cool coastal climate the region is famous for.
Credaro established their first commercial vineyards in 1988 and today the family manages 110 hectares of vineyards over five sites across the region.
Integrity is central to their story, from growing their own grapes and nurturing them with minimal intervention to maintaining links to their heritage through their varietals.
Featured in our Anniversary Collection are the elegant and generous Credaro Kinship Chardonnay 2022 and the powerful Credaro Five Tales Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, two hero varieties of Margaret River.
And what of the future? “We are bringing out a new Heritage Range in 2023-2025 which will consist of six Italian varietals grown here on the Credaro Estate. We want our wine to be a tribute to Europe from Australia, celebrating our history and culture, and the amazing fertile land we now call home,” says Matthew Credaro, fourth generation owner, Director, and Operations Manager.
“Some of the varieties we've recently grafted are Montepulciano, Nebbiolo and Barbera. We also have longer-term plans to build a new Cellar Door at our Wilyabrup Vineyard.”
DRAYTON’S FAMILY WINES… CELEBRATING 170 YEARS OF HERITAGE AND HISTORY
The Drayton's Cellar Door Museum.
The Drayton Family are one of the oldest wine families in Australia, with an incredible 170 years of winemaking expertise.
They are a Hunter Valley producer built on the love of wine and a passion for uncompromising quality. Their story is not without challenge – perseverance and strength in overcoming tragedies throughout their history has seen Drayton's build a lasting legacy as an iconic and respected Australian wine brand.
“Our longevity and success have come from lots of hard work, commitment to quality winemaking, and taking good care of the land and the vines, “explains Rob Jaworski, Managing Director of Drayton’s Family Wines.
“Our 170th Anniversary will be a year-long party, with a range of exciting events held throughout 2023. We will also be releasing a limited range of commemorative wines, including 170 bottles only of a very special red vintage, signed by John Drayton.”
From their Vineyard Reserve label and included in this collection, the Drayton’s Family Wines Vineyard Reserve Verdelho 2021 and the Drayton’s Family Wines Vineyard Reserve Shiraz 2019 are cracking expressions of classic Hunter Valley Verdelho and Shiraz.
GOONA WARRA VINEYARD… CELEBRATING 160 YEARS AND A RENAISSANCE IN WINEMAKING
Goona Warra's historic bluestone structures have survived the test of time.
“Goona Warra” meaning “resting place of black swan” in the local indigenous dialect, was founded in 1863 in Sunbury, Victoria, by James Goodall Francis. A businessman and a politician, his foray into wine was reflective of a flourishing Victorian wine industry.
Having survived phylloxera and the 1890s recession, the property went through a considerable stage of non-viticultural practices until 1983 when it was bought and replanted to the varieties that exist today. Goona Warra has stood the test of time and is experiencing an exciting viticultural renaissance.
“The next stage in the life of Goona Warra Vineyards is considerable,” says Winemaker Richard Buller. “The new owners have applied for and been granted permission to build new cellar door and reception complexes. This will be followed by the building of a luxury hotel and restaurant at the top of the site,” he says.
“There are also plans to plant a new vineyard adjacent to the existing Chardonnay. All in all, the next phase in this site’s long life is going to be very exciting.”
Featured in this collection is the Goona Warra Vineyard Chairmans Reserve Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc 2019, a unique and inspired blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, and supple and well-balanced Goona Warra Vineyard Chairmans Reserve Shiraz 2018.
HARDY’S… CELEBRATING 170 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN WINEMAKING
Hardy's Tintara Cellar Door and winery in McLaren Vale.
Generally regarded as the father of the wine industry in South Australia, Thomas Hardy was a grand pioneer who came to Australia as a young man, and with his energy and devotion, built a world-renowned business.
A true visionary, Thomas Hardy saw potential in the rich soils of the McLaren Vale region and set out to make his vision of creating world-class wines a reality, in the process becoming a legend of the industry. His enduring nature ensured that, despite challenges over the years, he was able to persevere and achieve success.
With an outstanding track record, including three prestigious Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophies, Hardys has flourished, and today is available in over 140 countries.
When asked what it is about the Hardys story that’s special, Brand Manager Victoria Rae explains – “The people behind the brand are what make the Hardys story so rich and unique. Each of them has played an incredibly influential role in history, not just for Hardys but the entire Australian Winemaking industry,” she says. “From Thomas Hardy’s determination to keep phylloxera out of South Australia at the turn of the 20th Century, to Eileen Hardy’s stewardship throughout the 1970s, recognised by becoming the first Australian woman to be awarded the OBE for services to wine, to our winemakers of today… it's their dedication and passion that make Hardys so special.”
Featured in our Anniversary Collection is the stunning Hardy’s HRB Chardonnay 2021, a blend of Yarra Valley, Margaret River and Pemberton grapes, and the Hardys Tintara Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, a must-try regional-varietal match produced from some of McLaren Vale’s original vineyards which are now more than 100-years old.
IRVINE… CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF PEOPLE AND PLACE
The Miles Family, owners of Irvine Wines.
Whilst Irvine Wines started 40 years ago, their grape growing story began 155 years ago when Henry Winter Miles planted the first Shiraz vines which still stand on their home vineyard block today.
After many years of successfully promoting his brand, and particularly the Merlot variety, Jim Irvine succeeded in putting Australian Merlot at the forefront of the world’s very best, becoming globally recognised as Merlot Masters, a title rewarded with international awards vintage after vintage.
History came full circle in 2014 when Irvine sold the business to his Eden Valley neighbours, the Miles and Wade families. Today, four generations of Miles’ family expertise ensures an ongoing commitment to excellence and Irvine’s enduring legacy.
When asked about the secret to their longevity and success, winemaker Lachlan Duncan was quick to respond. “People and place. We are very fortunate to have great people working in all areas of our business,” he says. “It also comes down to the exceptional quality of fruit from our estate vineyards.”
Two wines sourced from the Spring Hill label are included in this collection – the Irvine Spring Hill Pinot Gris 2022, a lovely light-weight Gris style, and the Irvine Spring Hill Shiraz 2021, a bright and fresh wine sourced from two Irvine vineyards, displaying classic Barossa Shiraz flavours.
TARRAWARRA ESTATE… CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF AN INSPIRED VISION
The vision to create and share a unique and beautiful place was born from Marc Besen's gratitude to the country that welcomed him with open arms when he arrived as a refugee following World War II.
Inspired by the wines of Burgundy, and encouraged by legendary Yarra Valley winemaker Dr John Middleton, Marc and his wife Eva planted their first vines in 1983, establishing what would become a top-tier Yarra Valley winery, known for its elegant, cool climate wines.
Forty years on, the 400-hectare property now encompasses 28 hectares of vines,
an extensive nature reserve, cattle grazing, a kitchen garden and a beautiful cellar door and restaurant.
As one of the pioneers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Yarra Valley, TarraWarra Estate are now seeing their potential come to fruition in the production of enduring, world-class wines.
Included in our Anniversary Collection are two great examples of TarraWarra’s winemaking talent – the deeply flavoursome yet refined TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay 2017, and the supple TarraWarra Estate K Block Merlot 2021.
“Our Estate Chardonnay is a Yarra Valley classic and one of our most enduring flagship wines,” explains former Head Winemaker and General Manager Clare Halloran. “Chardonnay is one of Tarrawarra’s feature and focus varieties, planted by Eva and Marc Besen when the vineyard was first established,” she says.
“And we are possibly one of the only producers of single variety Merlot in the region – it has long been one of our most popular wines. Grown on the warmest, hillside block, our Merlot is rich, sumptuous, delicious, and perfect for a birthday celebration!”
2023 marks major milestone anniversaries for several leading Aussie wineries including Credaro, Irvine, TarraWarra Estate, Goona Warra Vineyard, Hardys, and Drayton’s Family Wines. Join us as we honour their dedication, passion, and hard work with a limited release Anniversary Collection, featuring special signature wines from each producer. Delve into the past, present and future of these enduring greats, and toast over 600 years of winemaking history.