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2025 marks

44 VINTAGES OF ELDERTON WINES

THE BEGINNING

The vineyard was first planted on the banks of the North Para River in Nuriootpa in 1894 by early German settlers, the Scholz family. In 1916, it was purchased by Samuel Elderton Tolley who named the Estate ‘Elderton’. He built himself a sprawling homestead on the Estate and sold the fruit to his family’s winery. It was run successfully for many years, but became derelict in the early years of the vine pull (circa 1975).

“If you buy the house, I will give you the surrounding 72 acres of old vines for nothing”. This was the proposal offered to Lorraine and Neil Ashmead. The rambling old homestead looked ideal for a growing family and the Ashmead’s worked tirelessly to salvage and restore a phenomenal treasure of a vineyard.

In 1982 the first wine was made under the Elderton label. 

THE SECOND GENERATION

The second generation, Cameron and Allister, took the reins of the business in 2003 and today work alongside their wives, Jules and Rebecca, to run Elderton Wines, with Lorraine enjoying retirement (you might see her pottering in the Cellar Door garden).

In 2024, a new entity named Ashmead Family Vintners became the overarching business responsible for winemaking and marketing all our family’s vinous and viticultural pursuits.

This ensures that as Elderton inches towards the inclusion of the third generation, it can do so focusing on what Elderton does best - creating estate grown and made Barossan wines that showcase traditional highlights. Innovation will continue in both our vineyards and winemaking, but through subtle evolution.

Elderton remains committed to working with varieties that have a real footprint in our past as much as our future. Elderton will continue to create world class wines that couldn’t possibly come from anywhere else except our own home in the Barossa. We adore making some of Australia’s greatest wines from our estate vineyards and the gnarled and beautiful old vines that continue to thrive in the remarkable soils they sit in. None of this will change.

HOW DOES SMALL VICTORIES FIT INTO OUR STORY?

THE OLD SAYING THAT GREAT WINE IS MADE IN THE VINEYARD IS ONE THAT HOLDS VERY TRUE AT ELDERTON.

ASHMEAD FAMILY

VINEYARDS

We are very proud custodians of the family Estate, located in Nuriootpa, where all of Elderton’s icon wines are produced. In recent years we have been able to acquire other significant sites around the Barossa to further showcase the diverse regionality that exists within the appellation.

Our winemaking team works very closely with our vineyard team throughout the year, to produce premium quality fruit with a focus on long term sustainable production, low yields, low irrigation and minimal inputs.

NURIOOTPA VINEYARD

Originally planted by the Scholz family in 1894. We are very proud custodians of the original Elderton estate in Nuriootpa, which grows the fruit for our icon wines Command Shiraz and Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon.

LOCATION
On the banks of the North Para River in Nuriootpa

ELEVATION
275m

SOIL
Alluvial river silt soils over red and brown clays with limestone beneath

VARIETIES
Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

GREENOCK VINEYARD

Originally planted by the Helbig family in 1915. Purchased by the Ashmead family after vintage 2010. This vineyard sits in its own little valley on the northeast corner of the hamlet of Greenock, also bordering on the Moppa sub appellation of the Barossa.

LOCATION
Just outside Greenock, on the western ridge of the Barossa

ELEVATION
330m – 350m

SOIL
Free draining and rich in ironstone, changing through to very sandy loam at lower points

VARIETIES
Shiraz, Grenache, Carignan, Mataro, Cinsault

CRANEFORD VINEYARD

Planted by the Obst family in 1990 and purchased by the Ashmead family in 2007. This vineyard lies just south of the small township of Craneford. Like other Eden Valley locations, the soil and climate varies quite  considerably from that of the Barossa Valley floor. It is generally wetter and cooler and the soils tend to be skeletal and minerally. Aspect also varies significantly, with rolling hills and valleys providing much site variation.

LOCATION
Deep in the Eden Valley ranges

ELEVATION
390m – 425m, aspects vary significantly with rolling hills and valleys

SOIL
Shallow loamy sand over granite bedrock

VARIETIES
Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Chardonnay

MENGLER HILL VINEYARD

Originally planted over 100 years ago by the Pohler family. This vineyard is one of the highest altitude vineyards in the Barossa, sitting atop Mengler Hill, with amazing views down through both the Eden and Barossa Valleys. Purchased from the Matchoss family in 2023, the Mengler Hill vineyard encompasses everything that the Ashmead family love about the Barossa.

LOCATION
Atop Mengler Hill

ELEVATION
Around 500m, with varied aspects due to the topography

SOIL
Shallow, skeletal, grey sandy loam with quartz gravel over weathered rock and yellow clay-based soils

VARIETIES
Shiraz, Grenache, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Viognier

SUSTAINABILITY

Elderton is a leader within the Australian wine industry with regard to environmental sustainability. Through using sustainable practices, the hope is that the next generation of the Ashmead family have a lot to work with when they are at the helm. 

We have proactively implemented a number of initiatives in the day to day operations of the winery and vineyard to minimise our environmental footprint and promote a sustainable and environmentally responsible work place. 

KEY PEOPLE

ALLISTER ASHMEAD

Co Managing Director
Marketing & Sales 
al@eldertonwines.com.au

CAMERON ASHMEAD

Co Managing Director
Business Development 
cameron@eldertonwines.com.au

JULES ASHMEAD

Head of Production
Winemaking & Viticulture
julie@eldertonwines.com.au

REBECCA ASHMEAD

Export & Production Manager
production@eldertonwines.com.au

BROCK HARRISON

CONRAD POHLINGER

PETER WILD

JODHI THOMS

Cellar Door Manager and Commander Concierge
jodhi@eldertonwines.com.au

JESS RUCIACK

Digital Marketing Manager
jess@eldertonwines.com.au

KARLIE CURRIE

Small Victories Brand Manager
karli@eldertonwines.com.au

LISA UNDERWOOD

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