After time spent working in Saudi Arabia, Neil and Lorraine Ashmead, moved to the Barossa in 1979, after Lorraine’s father identified a beautiful home with potential. The homestead, in the heart of the township of Nuriootpa, was surrounded by extremely old Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. At a time where demand for Australian table wine was negligible, the vineyard had become derelict. After years of no interest, the real estate agent eventually offered the Ashmeads the 72 acre vineyard as a bonus, as part of the sale of the homestead. Three years later, after restoring the vineyard, Elderton Wines was born.
1894 Vineyard planted on banks of North Para River, Scholz Family
1916 Property purchased by Tolley Family
1980 Ashmead family purchased property and began vineyard restoration
1982 First wine produced under Elderton label with the help of Peter Lehmann
1983 Floods occur; James Irvine hired as contract winemaker
1984 First vintage of Command Shiraz produced
1993 Jimmy Watson Trophy, Royal Melbourne Wine Show
1997 Neil Ashmead passed away
1998 First vintage of Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon produced
2000 World’s Best Shiraz Trophy, International Wine & Spirits Competition
Allister Ashmead returned to Elderton
Elderton named in Top 100 Wines in the World, Wine Spectator (plus 2004 & 2008)
2002 Elderton purchased Citrus Cellars and built own winemaking facility
2003 Cameron Ashmead returned to Elderton
Richard Langford recruited as Winemaker
2005 Elderton named in Top 100 Wineries in the World, Wine & Spirits Magazine
2007 Craneford vineyard purchased
2008 Elderton named in Wines of the Year, Decanter
2010 Greenock vineyard purchased
2010 Solar panel installation on winery
2011 30 vintages of Elderton Wines
2013 Launch of range of wines from Greenock vineyard
2017 New Cellar Door opened in the family homestead
2019 Julie Ashmead takes on role of Head of Production
Brock Harrison recruited as Winemaker
The Elderton COMMANDERS are our most loyal supporters, and we think they deserve to be a part of a special group. Membership is on an annual basis, updated each financial year.
Elderton customers are invited to be a COMMANDER if they have spent at least $1500 on wine through Cellar Door and the Eldertonian mailing list in the preceding financial year.
Members receive an individually numbered COMMANDER key tag which gives access to some great rewards. An added bonus is that Elderton Commanders has no membership fee.
Eldertonians are our friends, our supporters! Being an Eldertonian means you are on our mailing list and can receive our bi-annual Buzz Newsletter, special offers via email and invites to events at Elderton and in your home state.
You can also order wine online, view your past online orders and receive free door to door delivery anywhere in Australia, for orders over $175.