On November 17, 2024, Yalumba celebrates 175 years of multi-generational family ownership, innovation, and excellence in the art of winemaking. Established in 1849, Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, driven by the spirit of innovation passed down through six generations. It remains fiercely independent through ownership by the Hill-Smith Family and is committed to sustaining the family wine business for generations to come.
“This anniversary is not only a nod to years passed. It is a reflection of our resilience and a commitment to mastering our craft, generation after generation. It also acknowledges the many exceptional fine wine people that have come through the gates of Yalumba across three centuries, with shared love for our property, our wines, and our industry…Most of all, it is celebration of an exciting future ahead for our family business and the world of Australian fine wine. While we celebrate our past 175 years, we keep our eyes firmly set on the next 175 as the generations before us have done.”
– Robert Hill-Smith
Yalumba’s longevity and success is a result of patience, collaboration, and progressive thinking. There is foresight to embrace the natural terroir to craft wines with individual character and a sense of purpose, a spirit to reinvest in the land upon which it operates, and knowledge to behave as a leader in the industry. Yalumba is committed to sharing stories of provenance gathered over 175 years of family winemaking.
- Established in 1849 when Samuel Smith planted his first vines by the moonlight, Yalumba has remained fiercely independent for six generations through continuous family ownership by the Hill-Smith and is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery.
- Yalumba's 175 years of looking forward is defined by continuing a long history of pioneering, innovation, and stewardship for generations to come.
- Yalumba is committed to the iconic Barossa varieties: Shiraz, Grenache, and the great Australian blend of Cabernet & Shiraz. The Caley and The Signature are both acknowledged as international benchmarks for the style.
- Custodians to heritage vines Yalumba’s respect for their oldest vines, many on roots dating back to 1854, included the creation of the Old Vine Charter.
- Yalumba’s on-site working Cooperage, operational since the turn of the 20th century and the only of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, crafts the oak barrels for their premium wines.
Louisa Rose has been a part of the Yalumba family for 30 years, the past 18 years as Head Winemaker. Throughout those years, Louisa has become one of the world’s most respected winemakers, revered personally for her contribution to the industry and her wines. As Yalumba celebrates its 175th year, Louisa steps into a role that will arguably have a greater impact on the future of Yalumba than any other; Head of Sustainability.