The Purbrick family has owned Tahbilk, a winery and vineyard in Victoria, Australia, for 100 years. The property was purchased by Reginald Purbrick in 1925 and has been passed down through five generations of the family. Eric Purbrick, Reginald’s son, inherited Tahbilk in the 1930s and dedicated his career to revitalizing the business, establishing marketing and distribution networks and promoting the brand. He was successful in returning the quality and consistency of the wine to that of its golden age in the 1880s. Alister Purbrick, Eric’s son, also dedicated his career to Tahbilk, modernizing the winemaking techniques and leading the winery for over 45 years. He and Eric have both been instrumental in maintaining the wine’s pedigree and producing sophisticated, long-lasting wines.
Tahbilk Estate is located in the Nagambie Lakes region of Victoria, Australia, which is known for its warm climate and abundance of lakes and waterways. These bodies of water act to mitigate the heat and reduce climate variability in the region, making it an ideal location for grape growing. The Nagambie Lakes region has been recognized by Wine Australia as distinct from the broader Goulburn Valley region due to its unique soil type, which is rich in iron oxide (Duplex 2.2), and its proximity to large bodies of water. This soil type has a positive effect on grape quality and gives the wines produced in the region a defined character. Tahbilk Estate is one of only eight wine regions in the world that are dramatically influenced by large bodies of water, which protect the fruit from spring frosts and allow it to ripen consistently.
Tahbilk Estate is home to 200 hectares of heritage vineyards, including the largest single planting of Marsanne and some of the oldest Shiraz plantings dating back to 1860. The estate’s old vineyards are carefully managed to ensure that they can continue to produce high quality grapes for generations to come. These include the incredibly rare pre-phylloxera Shiraz vines planted in 1860, which are known as some of the oldest productive Shiraz vineyards in the world. Tahbilk also produces a single vineyard release, the Tahbilk “1860 Vines” Shiraz, from these vines. The estate is also home to the oldest and largest single planting of Marsanne in the world, with vines that were planted in 1927. The Marsanne grape originates from the northern Rhone in France and thrives in the rich, ferric soils of the Nagambie Lakes region. Tahbilk produces a single vineyard release, the Tahbilk “1927 Vines” Marsanne, from these vines. The estate’s old vine Cabernet Sauvignon plantings date back to 1948 and are carefully managed to ensure their continued health.
In addition to their work in winemaking, the Purbrick family has also been focused on sustainability. They have been at the forefront of sustainable wine tourism since the 1990s, seeking to minimize negative impacts on the environment and increase positive impacts, such as job creation and cultural heritage preservation. Their efforts have been recognized with awards such as Carbon Neutral certification and being named a finalist in the United Nations World Tourism Awards for Sustainable Wine Tourism. The family is committed to continuing their sustainable practices and protecting Tahbilk’s heritage for future generations.
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Cathy Ho
2 weeks agoI had the pleasure of visiting one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Australia. Set against a backdrop of rolling vineyards, this winery not only boasts an impressive selection of wines but is steeped in history, offering a unique experience that is as educational as it is enjoyable. The highlight of the visit was undoubtedly the historical building that houses the winery. With its rustic architecture and vintage charm, the structure tells a story that spans generations. Walking through the hallways filled with aged oak barrels and vintage wine-making equipment, I felt as if I had taken a step back in time.
E H
2 months agoWe had no idea how big this winery is, after we turned into Tahbilk Winery, a sign reads" Cellar Door and Restaurant 4.2km", very surprised. Been December and January holiday season, the cellar door is packed, there are many varieties of wine to taste, too many groups tasting at the same time, staff were frantically busy, the process is a bit chaotic, very slow moving from one wine to the next, at one stage we were standing there for more than 15 minutes for staff to notice us, it took us about 45 minutes still didn't taste all their wines. Have said that we glad that we went there, we were looking for a lighter red, have never heard of "cabernet franc", turns out it was very easy to drink and the perfect wine for us. Also, they have an underground cellar was built in 1863 continues to be in use today, highly recommend you go down there to check it out. overall, this was a great day out for us, don't forget to have lunch at their restaurant, make sure you book a table on the terrace, absolutely tranquility view.
doug clarkson
a month agoFantastic experience, thoroughly recommend the wine blending course and lunch at the restaurant. Fabulous committed, warm, friendly and knowledgeable crew. Awesome keep up the great work
Fran Shaw
2 months agoAn amazing spot, with beautiful wine. I love this winery which can be accessed by the lake or road, well worth a visit. The Cellar is worth an investigation
Michael Smith
5 months agoWent to Tahbilk for a tasting. Wine is really good with some outstanding reds. The whole Estate is so historic and really interesting to explore. Definately recommend dropping in if in the area.