Estate-grown wines, in-depth wine tastings and a colourful infusion of Australian artwork. The iconic Huntington Estate may be one of Australia’s oldest vineyards, but its appeal is anything but dated.
Established in 1969, Huntington Estate was originally founded by Bob and Wendy Roberts, who planted the first vines in the hope that Mudgee’s cool dry climate would produce wines that stand the test of time. Some 50-plus years later, the original vines continue to produce award-winning wines under the helm of new owner, Tim Stevens. It’s fair to say that Bob and Wendy’s gamble well and truly paid off.
Tim’s journey to the vines wasn’t a typical one. Originally from Abercorn in Queensland, Tim’s former career as a rural journalist for The Land, The Australian, and ABC Radio, took a turn into winemaking after completing a course at Charles Sturt University. His love for Mudgee reds and the region’s Bordeaux-like climate and soils led him to purchase neighbouring Abercorn Wines. Several awards later, Tim took over Huntington Estate in 2005.
“One of the things I most enjoy at Huntington Estate is making a diverse range of wines. Most regions can produce one or two particular styles but in Mudgee, we are blessed with an all-rounder set of terroirs with each excelling according to the increasing capriciousness of seasons”.
Huntington's wines are anything but ordinary, from the robust Block 3 Cabernet, grown on vines planted over 50 years ago, to their Grenache that’s been turning heads at awards shows. While Huntington’s wine is produced with a clear and consistent style and character, each vintage captures the quirks of the seasons.
“One of the things I most enjoy at Huntington Estate is making a diverse range of wines. Most regions can produce one or two particular styles but in Mudgee, we are blessed with an all-rounder set of terroirs with each excelling according to the increasing capriciousness of seasons”, Tim says.
“For a Mudgee Grenache to not only claim Best Grenache but to be a strong contender for Best Red is outstanding”
After winning the 2024 George Mackey Trophy for the best Grenache at the Sydney Royal Wine Show, it’s clear Tim’s passion is paying off. “I realised a life’s ambition to win a trophy at the Sydney Royal Wine Show – the most prestigious in Australia, featuring the best of the best around the country – and I did it for Grenache, my passion project for the last 10 years,” admits Tim.
Even Sarah Crowe, Chief of Judges and winemaker at Yarra Yering, shared her admiration: “For a Mudgee Grenache to not only claim Best Grenache but to be a strong contender for Best Red is outstanding.”
Tim is still experimenting, learning, and perfecting his craft. “I’m lucky to be as excited by grape growing and winemaking as I was when I started in the industry as a refugee from the world of politics in Canberra,” he shares.
In 2020, Huntington Estate’s cellar door underwent a transformation. Built in the early 1970s, the space is now light, airy, and modern, while still honouring its history. Sip your tastings in a room framed with custom-made stained-glass windows and counters crafted from the estate’s original oak fermenters.
Tim’s passion for art is infused into the cellar door. Don’t miss the original Leunig artwork hanging on the wall; a piece painted on-site using Shiraz and earth from the vineyard. For a more intimate experience, book a private tasting in The Studio. Once the art studio of prestigious Queensland artist Patrick Hockey, the space was brought down from Queensland for guests to marvel at artworks over tastings. On a warm day, there’s nothing like sitting down with a glass of your favourite wine in the cellar door’s spacious gardens, framed by towering gum trees.
