Tyrrell's Wines
Tyrrell's stands as one of Australia's oldest and most esteemed family-owned wineries, rooted in a history dating back to 1858. The Tyrrell family, custodians of the finest and oldest vineyards in the Hunter Valley, are revered for top releases of Shiraz, Semillon, and Chardonnay, considered true regional exemplars. With Chris Tyrrell continuing the family legacy in the cellar, Tyrrell's remains a vital bastion of quality Australian wine.
Embedded in the fabric of the Hunter Valley, Tyrrell's, led by founder Edward Tyrrell, pioneered Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, shaping the region's iconic Semillon style. Their Vat 1 Semillon, Australia's most-awarded white wine, boasts nearly 5,500 medals and over 330 trophies. Owning eight of NSW's 11 oldest vineyards, Tyrrell's crafts Sacred Sites wines, including the lauded Old Patch Shiraz, earning consecutive perfect scores from James Suckling.
While honouring their heritage, the Tyrrells embrace progress, staying at the forefront of the dynamic Hunter Valley. As fifth-generation winemaker Chris Tyrrell notes, working with vineyards planted by his forefathers is humbling. The family's commitment extends to future generations, exemplified by their involvement in Australia's First Families of Wine. Guided by Edward Tyrrell's motto, "Nothing is great unless it is good," the Tyrrell legacy continues, passing the business to each generation in better condition, balancing respect for the past with an eye firmly on the future.
Halliday Top 100 Wineries of 2024 - No.1
"With the family estate founded in 1858, it would be easy for Tyrrell’s to rest on tradition – so deep and so profound it is – to settle into the comfort of cruise control. But that’s never been the Tyrrell’s style. History is the deep heartbeat, but constant refinement the modus operandi. Chris Tyrrell is the fifth-generation custodian of the family estate, taking the operational lead in 2014. That was an auspiciously fine vintage to take the reins, and a decade later, Chris’ leadership – alongside his legendary father, Bruce – has ensured an ever-upward arc, with the estate refined into one of peerless excellence. There are a lot of wines under the Tyrrell’s banner, but all have their place, from the everyday up to some of this country’s finest single-site expressions. And while blending across sites has always been a highpoint, that isolation and celebration of exceptional vineyards and blocks, coupled with a deftly light touch in the winery, rightly enshrine Tyrrell’s greatness. Just over two dozen wines were submitted to the 2025 Companion, across a range of prices, and over half notched gold-medal scores, with eleven 96 or higher. Tyrrell’s are in rarefied territory."
- Halliday Wine Companion
"One of the most successful family wineries, a humble operation for the first 110 years of its life that has grown out of all recognition over the past 45 years. Vat 1 Semillon is one of the most dominant wines in the Australian show system and Vat 47 Chardonnay is one of the pacesetters for this variety. Its estate plantings include over 100ha in the Hunter Valley and 26ha in Heathcote. In ’17 Tyrrell’s purchased the 13.5ha Stevens Old Hillside Vineyard on Marrowbone Road; 6.11ha are planted to shiraz, including a 1.1ha block planted in 1867, the balance planted in 1963, notably to shiraz and semillon. There are 11 blocks of vines older than 100 years in the Hunter Valley and the Tyrrell family owns 7 of those blocks. A founding member of Australia’s First Families of Wine."
- James Halliday