Building a legacy for Australian wine
The Hunter Valley was Australia’s first commercial wine region and is home to some of our oldest and rarest vines. In a rugged environment, before the region became the centre of premium wine and fine dining it is today, trailblazers laid the foundations of Australian wine.
James Busby: A founding father
While names like George Wyndham, Edward Tyrrell and James King have become some of the most important names in Australian wine it was an amateur viticulturist from the UK who left one of the biggest footprints. James Busby, a young Scottish civil servant and viticulturist, arrived in Australia in 1824.
While he wasn’t in Australia for long, Busby wrote books on grape growing and winemaking which were invaluable in the establishment of the vine in Australia. His most important contribution came from a four-month tour of Spanish and French vineyards. Busby collected hundreds of vine cuttings that became the heart and soul of Australia’s old vines collection, giving local grape growers and winemakers a tremendous resource.
Henry Lindeman: A man of vision
Hunter Valley innovator Dr Henry Lindeman was behind the success of the region’s signature varieties, including Semillon and Shiraz. He arrived in the Hunter Valley from the UK in 1840, and in 1843 planted his first vines on his 816-acre property ‘Cawarra’ in the Hunter Valley. He faced many challenges, including an arson attack on his cellar and wine stocks, but by 1850 he’d built a reputation for making exceptional wines. His was vital in promoting the fledgling wine industry as president of the local vineyard association, and promoting his beloved varieties, which are central to Hunter Valley’s success today.
Maurice O’Shea: A modern pioneer
Maurice O’Shea was a revolutionary, making thrilling table wines at a time when most wine in Australia was fortified. He was a visionary, labelling his wines by variety while other winemakers were still using vat numbers and letters. In 1921, aged 24, he bought a property which he named Mount Pleasant, now one of Australia’s most revered vineyard sites. He faced many hurdles and financial hardships before he found success, including severe hailstorms that damaged his vines every second year from 1927 to 1939. But he believed in the potential of the region, planting new vineyards and making a series of stunning wines that showed the world how exciting Australian wine could be.
New buzz, bright future
Today the Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s most visited wine regions with more than 100 vineyards alongside world-class cellar doors and restaurants. The region’s signature wine is Semillon, famous for its ability to age gracefully for well over 20 years, transforming from a light, crisp, lemony wine to something richer and complex with flavours of fig, toast and honey. Renowned British wine critic and Master of Wine Jancis Robinson called it “Australia’s unique gift to the world.” Shiraz is the region’s other superstar wine. Elegant, age-worthy and food-friendly, it’s a nice counterpoint to the bolder styles from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.
Despite its long history, there’s a new buzz about the rolling hills of the Hunter. Young winemakers are experimenting with new styles and techniques, and exploring alternative varieties like Fiano, Tempranillo and Barbera. Winemakers like Gwyn Olsen at Pepper Tree, Riche Harkham and Usher Tinkler are rising stars in Australian wine with a curiosity that’s leading them to bridge the old and the new. Through creativity and a commitment to continuing the unique Australian wine culture, this new generation of winemakers is reinforcing the Hunter Valley’s reputation as a classic fine wine region that’s always looking ahead.
