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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Michaela T
2 months agoHad the most amazing day yesterday with my family thanks to Michael, he has fantastic knowledge of wine, I certainly will be going back and recommending friends and family to partake in the wine tasting with Michael. We forgot to get a photo with Michael so here are a couple of others! Thank you again Michael for such a great day.
Mathew de Groen
a month agoOutstanding. Has to be one of the most under rated wineries in Victoria. A great selection of wines at incredibly reasonable prices. The Tahbilk Marsanne is a great white, far more complex than most whites but less fussy than most Chardonnays. The Tahbilk Shiraz and Cab Savs are also great wines. The winery itself is beautiful with magnificent old cellars. Surrounded by the river and the wetlands the whole grounds are very scenic. The restaurant is also highly recommended.
Francois & Pam BELORGEY
2 months agoWe had a lovely Pinot Gris on the terrace of the Restaurant overlooking the river, then went to the cellar door for wine tastings and were served by Jenny who is exceptional with her knowledge of the wines and the history of the Estate. Oldest family owned vineyard in Victoria. Make sure you stop here when in the Nagambie region.
Ally L
2 months agoI went here mid 2023 and still think about the sweet potato chips I had from there, they were amazing. My partner and I enjoyed visiting the winery.
Libby Lesuma
5 months agoFabulous cellar door. Staff knowledgeable and attentive. Food in restaurant exceptional. Views over the river relaxing and gives that true Aussie experience. Highly recommend to wine lovers and foodies.