Brokenwood Wines

Brokenwood was founded in 1970 by three Sydney-based solicitors, Tony Albert, John Beeston, and James Halliday, who paid a then-record price of $970 per acre for a 10-acre block in Pokolbin at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges. The early vintages were a labor of love, with family and friends drafted to assist. The first vintage was produced in 1973. In 1978, new partners joined, enabling the purchase of the neighboring block that would become the Graveyard Vineyard, named after its original designation as a Pokolbin cemetery that was never built. James Halliday sold his share in 1983, the same year Iain Riggs made the winery's first Semillon. In 1982, Iain Riggs joined as Chief Winemaker and Managing Director, introducing new equipment for premium white wine production; since 1983, white wines have been a significant part of total output.

• Founded 1970 by three Sydney lawyers paying a record $970 per acre for Pokolbin scrubland; first vintage made in 1973
• 1978 expansion with new partners enabled the purchase of what became the Graveyard Vineyard
• James Halliday sold his share in 1983; Iain Riggs, appointed in 1982, became the architect of the winery's Semillon and Shiraz identity over 38 vintages
• Cellar door and The Wood Restaurant opened in December 2018 after a $8 million redevelopment, winning Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year in 2019

Brokenwood's three flagship wines are the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, ILR Reserve Semillon, and HBA Shiraz, each celebrated for exceptional quality and regional expression. Since Langton's inaugural Classification in 1991, Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz has been recognised at the highest levels, progressing from Outstanding to Exceptional, and in December 2023, reaching 1st Classified status in Langton's 8th Edition. It is the only red wine from New South Wales, and the only Shiraz from the Hunter Valley, to hold this honour, placing it alongside Penfolds Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace, Mount Mary Quintet, and Wendouree Shiraz. The ILR Reserve Semillon, named after Iain Leslie Riggs, is an aged white wine that receives no oak and is released at six years bottle age. It has been awarded Best Semillon in the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion twice, for the 2009 vintage (released 2015) and the 2014 vintage (released 2020). The 2018 Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz won the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion Wine of the Year.

• Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz = 1st Classified (Langton's 8th Edition, December 2023), the only red wine from NSW at this tier
• ILR Reserve Semillon named for Iain Leslie Riggs; no oak, released at 6 years bottle age since the 2003 screw cap transition
• ILR Reserve Semillon won Halliday Best Semillon twice: 2009 vintage (released 2015) and 2014 vintage (released 2020)
• HBA Shiraz is a Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale blend inspired by the great regional blends of Australian winemaking masters of the 1940s to 1960s

The Graveyard Vineyard covers 15 hectares and was originally planted in 1968. Originally containing Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, it is today planted entirely to Shiraz across multiple named blocks, including Pa's, 7 Acre, Bush, Duck's, Road, Middle, End, Kat's and Dog's, State of Origin, Vegas, and Trees. The vineyard's heavy clay soil results in low yields averaging around one tonne per acre, delivering extraordinary concentration of flavor. Graveyard Shiraz is a meticulous selection of the best parcels, predominantly from the oldest plantings, fermented in open-top vessels and matured in French oak puncheons using one, two, and three year old oak, with no new oak, for approximately 14 months. For Semillon, grapes are harvested early in the Hunter's subtropical climate to preserve acidity, then crushed and run through a must chiller before pressing to retain aromatic citrus components, followed by fermentation in stainless steel at approximately 16 to 17 degrees Celsius.

• Graveyard Vineyard = 15 hectares of heavy clay soil, originally planted 1968; 100% Shiraz since the last Chardonnay vines were removed
• Low yields of approximately 1 tonne per acre from the heavy clay produce intense berry concentration
• Graveyard Shiraz matured in French oak puncheons (no new oak) for approximately 14 months, preserving regional red spice and bramble fruit character
• Hunter Semillon harvested early to preserve acidity, chilled immediately on arrival, fermented in stainless steel at 16 to 17 degrees Celsius with zero skin contact

Iain Riggs AM served as Chief Winemaker and Managing Director from 1982 until his retirement in 2020, spanning 38 vintages. He is credited with transforming Brokenwood from a weekend hobby winery into a national and international presence, driving the expansion into white wines and championing restrained oak and lower alcohol styles. Stuart Hordern joined in 2009, was named Senior Winemaker in December 2014, and became only the second Chief Winemaker in the winery's history when Riggs retired. Kate Sturgess joined as assistant winemaker in July 2015 and was promoted to Winemaker in 2019. Together, Stuart and Kate were both finalists for the 2026 Halliday Winemaker of the Year, with reviewer Toni Paterson MW calling them a winemaking dream team. Stuart Hordern was named 2024 Winemaker of the Year at the Hunter Valley Legends Awards.

• Iain Riggs AM = Chief Winemaker 1982 to 2020, 38 vintages; instrumental in establishing Hunter Valley Semillon as a world-class white wine style
• Stuart Hordern joined 2009, became Chief Winemaker in 2020; only the second person to hold this role in the winery's history
• Kate Sturgess joined 2015, promoted to Winemaker 2019; both Hordern and Sturgess were 2026 Halliday Winemaker of the Year finalists
• Vineyard manager Katrina Barry has worked at Brokenwood since childhood, continuing the legacy of her father Keith Barry, who managed the vineyards for 23 years

Brokenwood's Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz is the only red wine from New South Wales to hold 1st Classified status in Langton's Classification of Australian Wine, placing it in the company of Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace. The average market price for Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz sits at approximately $258 per 750ml. Beyond its flagship wines, Brokenwood produces wines at multiple price points, sourcing premium fruit from Beechworth, Orange, McLaren Vale, the Yarra Valley, and Margaret River in addition to its Hunter Valley estate vineyards. Production is approximately 100,000 cases annually. In 2026, Brokenwood was named Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year, selected ahead of 945 wineries across Australia, with 16 of 18 reviewed wines scoring 95 points or above.

• Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz = average $258 per 750ml; the only NSW red wine at Langton's 1st Classified tier
• Named 2026 Halliday Winery of the Year, selected from 945 Australian wineries; 16 of 18 wines reviewed scored 95 points or above
• Multi-regional portfolio spans Hunter Valley, Beechworth, Orange, McLaren Vale, Yarra Valley, and Margaret River, totaling over 30 wines
• Brokenwood and its Hunter Valley vineyards, including Graveyard, Tallawanta, Mistress Block, Verona, and Oakey Creek, are certified members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia

Brokenwood is widely regarded as one of the Hunter Valley's benchmark producers, credited with helping define the premium identity of Hunter Valley Semillon and demonstrating the aging potential and collectibility of Hunter Valley Shiraz. The winery was one of the first in the region to embrace single-vineyard site acknowledgment and multi-regional blending, pioneering approaches that are now industry standard. Its cellar door and The Wood Restaurant, opened in December 2018, won Cellar Door of the Year at the Hunter Valley Legends Awards in 2019, and again in 2025. At the 2015 Hunter Valley Wine Show, Brokenwood won 5 trophies with 20 out of 22 wines entered receiving a medal. In 2026, both the winery and Chief Winemaker Stuart Hordern received major recognition from the Halliday Wine Companion.

• Pioneered single-vineyard site labeling and multi-regional blending in Australia; a founding influence on Hunter Valley's premium wine identity
• Won 5 trophies at the 2015 Hunter Valley Wine Show; 20 of 22 wines entered received a medal
• Named 2025 Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year and Best Cellar Door Experience in NSW at the 2026 Halliday People's Choice Awards
• 2018 Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz won the 2021 Halliday Wine Companion Wine of the Year; the Hunter Valley Semillon won best current vintage Semillon at the Hunter Valley Wine Show three years running for 2020, 2021, and 2022 vintages