Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) come together

Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) came together as an extended family in 2009, to tell the stories behind their family businesses and to raise the profile of the premium and distinctive wines they craft. Fiercely family-owned, multi-generational winemakers, these eleven families represent an image of quality Australian winemaking, full of history and provenance that they will be sharing at the 2019 Australia Redefined event held by Wine Australia in London on 17 September.

Alongside Australian-born MW Miles Corish, the group will present their most iconic and revered wines at a masterclass titled ‘Unlocked’.  This event sees each family venturing into their cellars to showcase  the very best of their museum wines to present to audiences a cross section of Australian museum wines and how they have developed to became exceptional expressions of their variety over time.

The wines selected each demonstrate a special element of family style and region. They include:

• 2003 Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne - made from the oldest Marsanne vines in the world
• 2009 Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon - for a true taste of the Hunter Valley
• 2014 Yalumba The Caley - the classic Australian blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
• 2005 Henschke Hill of Grace - arguably Australia’s most iconic single vineyard Shiraz
• Campbells of Rutherglen Merchant Prince Rare Muscat - a stunning insight to the world renowned fortifieds of Rutherglen in north eastern Victoria.

Family members attending for the masterclass and trade tasting include: 

• Chester Osborn, Fourth Generation, dÁrenberg, McLaren Vale
• Johann Henschke, Sixth Generation, Henschke, Eden Valley
• Peter Barry, Second Generation, Jim Barry Wines, Clare Valley
• Alister Purbrick, Fourth Generation, Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes
• Bruce Tyrrell, Fourth Generation, Tyrrell’s, Hunter Valley
• Robert Hill Smith, Fifth Generation and Jessica Hill Smith, Sixth Generation, Yalumba, Barossa Valley

After the morning masterclass, they will continue to the trade tasting exhibiting under the AFFW banner showing their current vintage in-market wines.