The Society's Australian Chardonnay 2025

The Yalumba Wine Company, Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, is owned and operated by the Hill-Smith family in the Barossa Valley, home to some of the world’s oldest vines. Founded in 1849 by British brewer Samuel Smith, who named it ‘Yalumba’ meaning ‘all the land around,’ the winery now owns over 1000 acres of vineyards across the Barossa, Clare, and Eden valleys, as well as Coonawarra, and sources grapes from long-term growers.

Yalumba practices hands-on winemaking, with on-site master coopers crafting oak barrels and a vine nursery propagating varieties. They produce wines at all price levels, from entry-level to premium labels like Signature and The Menzies along with everyday classics like our Society’s own label Australian chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

Under fifth-generation Robert Hill-Smith, Yalumba has innovated into the 21st century, maintaining its reputation for quality, authenticity, and integrity. Robert pioneered Viognier in Australia, establishing Yalumba as a distinguished producer of this grape globally.

Environmental sustainability
Yalumba installed a system to harvest solar energy at their winery, the largest in Australia at the time it was installed in 2016. Their environmental credentials are impeccable, 100% accredited by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and they are a Silver Member of  International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), as well as being partners of the United Nations Race to Zero program to connect likeminded businesses around the globe. their emissions roadmap aims for a 50% reduction by 20230 and carbon neutrality by 2050. In the winery they take a minimal intervention approach, from the vineyard to the cellar.