History of Tyrrell's
Tyrrell’s Wines began its journey in 1858 when Edward Tyrrell, a young Englishman from Kent, selected a promising plot of land in Pokolbin, in the lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales. With just 12 acres, Edward built a humble slab hut—still standing today—and planted the estate’s first vines. His early wines laid the foundation for a legacy that has endured for more than 165 years.
In the following generations, the Tyrrell family maintained a visionary approach to viticulture and winemaking. Edward’s son, Dan Tyrrell, gained a reputation as one of the Hunter Valley’s most respected winemakers in the early 20th century. Under Murray Tyrrell, Edward’s grandson, the estate transitioned from a respected regional name to a leader on the national stage. Murray was instrumental in modernizing Australian viticulture, famously climbing a fence to obtain Chardonnay cuttings—leading to the release of Vat 47, Australia's first commercial Chardonnay, in 1971.
Today, Bruce Tyrrell, Murray’s son, is at the helm, supported by his children, the fifth generation—John (vineyard manager), Chris (chief operating officer), and Jane (marketing). Bruce has been a staunch advocate for old vine preservation, single-vineyard bottlings, and sustainability, spearheading initiatives such as the Sacred Sites project, which showcases some of the oldest productive vines in the world. His commitment to terroir, family heritage, and minimal intervention has helped position Tyrrell’s among Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) and as a globally respected name in fine wine.
Region and Vineyards
Tyrrell’s is inextricably linked to the Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s oldest and most distinctive wine regions. Nestled 160 km north of Sydney, the Hunter enjoys a warm maritime climate tempered by coastal breezes and frequent cloud cover, which helps to moderate temperatures and prolong ripening. While the region receives considerable summer rainfall, strategic vineyard management—including well-drained soils and canopy control—is crucial to producing high-quality fruit.
What sets the region apart is its resilience to phylloxera, the vineyard scourge that devastated much of Europe and North America. The Hunter was largely spared, allowing Tyrrell’s to preserve extraordinary old vine material, including vineyards planted in the 1860s and 1880s. These ancient, unirrigated vines are dry-grown and hand-pruned, producing exceptionally concentrated fruit. Bruce Tyrrell refers to these heritage blocks as “Sacred Sites,” recognizing their unique contribution to wine character and longevity.
Tyrrell’s principal vineyard holdings cluster around their historic winery in Pokolbin, encompassing sites such as Johnno’s, HVD (Hunter Valley Distillery), Stevens, and Belford, each with its own soil profile and microclimate. The sandy alluvial soils of Johnno’s enhance aromatic finesse in Semillon, while the red-brown loams of HVD lend richness and structure to Chardonnay.
Beyond the Hunter, Tyrrell’s has established a stronghold in Heathcote, Victoria—a region famed for its deep Cambrian soils rich in ironstone and ideal for structured, mineral-driven Shiraz. The cooler nights and elevated terrain provide a contrasting stylistic dimension to the Hunter’s more restrained reds.
Wine Range of Tyrrell's
Tyrrell’s diverse wine portfolio showcases both innovation and site specificity, with offerings ranging from everyday regional wines to globally celebrated icons. The estate is best known for its Semillon, Shiraz, and Chardonnay, and many bottlings highlight the expressive potential of single-vineyard sites.
Winemaker’s Selection: This is Tyrrell’s flagship range and includes their most iconic and age-worthy wines. All wines are sourced from ancient vines on the original estate around Pokolbin. Standouts include:
- Vat 1 Semillon: Australia’s most awarded white wine, celebrated for its purity, elegance, and incredible ability to age for decades. Always fermented in stainless steel with no oak.
- Vat 9 Shiraz: A classic Hunter Valley Shiraz with savoury depth, supple tannins, and aging potential.
- Vat 47 Chardonnay: The first commercial Chardonnay in Australia, offering texture and length with subtle oak integration.
Sacred Sites Range: Created to honour the heritage vineyards planted before 1908. These single-vineyard wines are bottled separately to preserve the purity of each site’s expression. Only produced in outstanding vintages and in extremely limited quantities, these wines are fermented with minimal intervention and matured in older oak to preserve fruit character.
Hunter Valley Range: This collection offers accessible, varietally pure wines that capture the regional essence of the Hunter Valley. It includes classic expressions of Semillon, Shiraz, and Chardonnay, often from younger vines and estate-managed blocks.
Lunatiq Shiraz (Heathcote): A powerful yet refined Shiraz from Tyrrell’s Heathcote estate, grown on ancient Cambrian soils. The wine is named after the lunar calendar used to guide key vineyard decisions. It is defined by fine tannins, mineral texture, and deep, brooding fruit, highlighting the terroir of central Victoria.
Rufus Stone Range: Named after an English royal legend, this range is focused on robust, fruit-driven red wines from premium vineyards outside the Hunter Valley, particularly in McLaren Vale and Heathcote. These wines are stylistically richer and riper, aimed at drinkers seeking immediate pleasure.
Each of these ranges reflects Tyrrell’s dual commitment to tradition and regional exploration, reinforcing its status as a standard-bearer for Australian wine excellence.
Did you know?
Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Hunter Valley Semillon holds the record as Australia’s most awarded white wine, with over 5,475 medals and 332 trophies. The wine’s ability to age gracefully for decades has earned it legendary status in both domestic and international markets.
