Hilltops Wine Region NSW

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN…

The history of the Hilltops Wine Region starts in the 1830’s when European graziers came to the area farming merino sheep and planting stone fruits and grapevines.

The region’s fortune boomed in 1860 as gold was discovered at the current site of the Lambing Flat Folk Museum in Young. Within 12 months 20,000 miners had descended on the region to ‘try their luck’.

Nichole Jasprizza moved to Young from Croatia during the 1860’s Gold Rush, and established a prosperous business selling cherries and wine to the local gold miners. By 1880 his three nephews from Dalmatia had come to Australia to join the business, and by the early years of the 20th century had won prizes at the then Sydney Wine Show, and extended their vineyards to 240 hectares, putting the Hilltops wine region on the map.

By 1900, Nichole and his three nephews had continued to prosper and owned around 600 acres of orchards and vineyards.

Sadly Nichole Jasprizza was shot and killed in 1902 (presumably not due to the quality of his wines!)

In 1969, Peter Robertson began the modern era of wine grape growing in the Hilltops region when he planted eight acres of vines on his ‘Barwang’ property.

In 1974 Peter set up a winery and produced his first Cabernet Sauvignon which won a silver medal at the Canberra Wine Show. Peter continued growing grapes and making wine at Barwang until 1988 when the property was purchased by McWilliam’s who produced wine under the Hilltops Barwang label.

A wine trophy has been named in Peter’s honour, which is awarded each year for the ‘Hilltops Wine of the Year’.

THE NEXT GENERATION…

Phil and Jill Lindsay established their Woodonga Hill vineyard in 1986 and a few years later set up a winery and cellar door north of Young. The Lindsays were also involved in establishing the Hilltops Vineyards Association, which had its first meeting on 4 August 1983. They assisted with the submission to have the Hilltops region recognised as a separate GI wine growing region. In 2018 the Lindsays were granted Lifetime Membership of the Association.

Brian and Sue Mullany began the plantings of Grove Estate Vineyard on their wedding day in October 1989 at the existing vineyard. This site was originally planted by one of Nichole Jasprizza’s nephews, Baldo Cunich in the 1870’s. Since then the vineyard has grown to over 100 hectares with vineyards now on two sites around Young. Grove Estate has a symbiotic relationship with the Clonakilla winery in Murrumbateman and many of their wines are made in conjunction with winemaker Tim Kirk. Grove Estate Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are the traditional standout wines from this vineyard as is the ‘Sommita’ Nebbiolo.

Brian Mullany is the current President of the Hilltops Vineyards Association.

Brian Freeman was Professor of Wine Science at Charles Sturt University for a decade until 2000 where he helped educate a generation of winemakers and viticulturists and was pivotal in establishing the National Wine Grape Industry Centre at Wagga. In 1999 Brian established his own 50 hectare vineyard in the Hilltops region near Young (since expanded to 200 hectares) and in 2004 launched his first wine under the Freeman Vineyards label. Brian is passionate about Italian varieties and established unique plantings of the northern Italian origin varieties Rondinella and Corvina – the only plantings in Australia. This rare blended wine won ‘Best Mature Dry Red’ at the NSW Wine Awards in 2009 and 2011. In 2012 Brian received the Graham Gregory Award that acknowledges outstanding contribution to the NSW wine industry. Since then the Freeman portfolio has expanded to encompass Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese and the winery has consistently been rated 5 Stars in the Halliday Wine Companion.

The Mullany family name also belongs to Ballinaclash. Established originally in 1965 as a cherry and stonefruit orchard, the property on the Olympic Highway south of Young is now equally renowned for its wines made from estate vines first planted in 1997, a thriving family business for Cath and Peter Mullany and their children.

In the cherry season throngs of pick-your-own visitors are attracted to the rustic Ballinaclash cellar door, which now offers casual meals, vineyard platters and regular music events where visitors enjoy a selection of award-winning Ballinaclash wines.

MORE RECENTLY

Celine Rousseau is a French-trained winemaker who was instrumental in forging a reputation for the wines of Chalkers Crossing located on the northern outskirts of Young. Several wines in her portfolio won prestigious awards and are still available under the Chalkers Crossing cellar reserve program. The winery is currently managed by winemaker Xanthe Freeman who completed her wine science degree at Charles Sturt University.

Xanthe represents the latest generation of winemakers and viticulturists in the Hilltops region having worked in other NSW regions and Italy. Her FREEMAN Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 was awarded the Peter Robertson Trophy for the ‘Hilltops Wine of the Year 2012’.

Jason and Alecia Brown purchased the Moppity Park vineyard in 2002, which was planted in 1973. This vineyard was run down and required a lot of work to get back into full production but by 2006 Jason and Alecia were able to release their first wine. This was the Moppity Shiraz 2006 which won ‘TOP Gold’ at the London International Wine and Spirit Competition. In 2008 grapes from their vineyard were included in the Eden Road Hilltops Shiraz wine which won the Jimmy Watson Trophy in 2009. Since 2009 their wines have won over 90 Trophies and Medals in different wine shows. They now have wines under three different labels including ‘Moppity’ and ‘Lock and Key’ and have been acclaimed “one of Australia’s most successful wine companies” producing wines that express varietal and regional integrity.

Trandari Wines established by the Gauntlett family specialising in the crafting of just two wines – Nebbiolo and Shiraz – was recently acquired by Tim Smith and Leanne McGregor. The Trandari Cellar Door operates from the Taubman and Webb Trading Post in Murringo.

THE HILLTOPS REGION

The Regional Heroes are Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, along with a range of red and white grapes, including Italian and Spanish varieties.

The Hilltops Region is approximately 375 km from Sydney (approx 4-hour drive) and 165km from Canberra (approx a 2-hour drive).

The Hilltops wine region is based around the NSW towns of Boorowa, Harden and Young on the south-western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Most of the 20 vineyards in the region are around 500m in altitude and produce exceptional trophy-winning cool climate wines.

Hilltops is one of NSW’s most exciting wine regions with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz having established a reputation for elegance, balance and proven ageing attributes. More recently, Italian and Spanish red varieties including Rondinella, Corvina, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Tempranillo have attracted a discerning following. Distinctive white varieties include Prosecco, Fiano, Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Gris.

Ten local wine producers showcase their wines at the Hilltops Regional Cellar Door located in the Young Visitor Information Centre. Wines can also be sampled and purchased at a number of Hilltops vineyard cellar doors, while many of the local pubs, clubs and restaurants stock Hilltops wines.

Cherries are the food hero of the Hilltops region, especially around Young, which is known as the ‘Cherry Capital of Australia’. The region also produces other fruits, including stone fruit, pears, apples, strawberries and olives. These can be purchased in season from farm gates and at the farmers’ market. Local produce features prominently on menus at regional cafes, restaurants and bakeries.

The Hilltops region forms part of the NSW Gold Trails celebrating the state’s gold mining heritage. Visit sites and view artefacts of national importance, particularly at local museums, try your luck at fossicking and gold panning and lose yourself in 19th century streetscapes.

All this is set against a backdrop of undulating, picturesque rural scenery.