Torbreck

Torbreck was established in 1994 from the resurrection of old vines vineyards that had fallen into disrepair on selected sites in The Barossa Valley. This share farming agreement enabled a small supply grapes from an ancient vineyard and in 1995 the first RunRig was vinified, a shiraz-viognier blend, released in late 1997 alongside a 1996 blend of grenache, Mataro (aka Mourvèdre) and shiraz known as The Steading

The two wines quickly attracted a large amount of attention as critics and wine lovers began to laud them. Twenty five years later Torbreck makes 19 different cuvées to continued acclaim, sourcing fruit from a number of old, some might say ancient, dry-farmed vines in vineyards that are among the best in the Barossa. Among the sites acquired or leased is the historic and beautiful Hillside estate in Lyndoch with its gnarled vines near 165 years old and original settlers farm house.

The ethos here is to show just what the Barossa can do with the grape varieties that initially made its name – Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro together with some Marsanne and Roussanne. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has tasted them that Torbreck’s wines have been something of a tribute to the great wines of the Rhône Valley while remaining essentially Barossa.

In 2017 winemaker Ian Hongell took on the role as Chief Winemaker overseeing all production and viticulture. Working closely with his team he is the custodian of numerous plots of old vines amongst Torbreck’s five estates running up the western ridge of the Valley. Furthermore Torbreck works in collaboration with more than thirty Barossa families who own a patchwork of vineyards that supply a wide cross section of old vines that make up many of the cuvees.