Hillside Vineyard
Hillside Vineyard
Torbreck's Hillside Vineyard, established by the Springbett family in 1849, has a rich history in the Barossa Valley. Acquired by Torbreck in 2002, the property spans 100 acres and boasts some of the region's oldest vineyards.
The estate is home to a variety of grape varieties, including heritage Shiraz and Grenache clones, which are used in the production of some of Torbreck's most popular wines, including RunRig, The Steading, Hillside Shiraz & Roussanne, and Hillside Vineyard Grenache. Newer vineyard plantings of red and white Rhone varieties for Cuvee Juveniles and Cuvee Juveniles Blanc have also been added.
Located at Lyndoch at the southern entrance to the Barossa Valley, the vineyard benefits from thin, skeletal, alluvial soils and gently undulating hills. Due to its low elevation of 200m above sea level, its ripening pattern is well ahead of that of the northern Barossa, and the fruit is harvested early in the season. This results in highly expressive wines with fragrant aromatics, great tension, and impeccable balance.
Rejuvenation of an Iconic Estate
Over the years, Torbreck has implemented a multi-stage program to rejuvenate all aspects of the property and restore it to its former stature as one of the great wine estates of the Barossa Valley. Currently in the final stages of restoring the heritage listed winery buildings, due for completion early 2024, visitors will be invited to explore the colorful history of the estate, gain an understanding of Torbreck's current environmental farming practices, and take a look at Torbreck's winemaking future
In the first stage of the program, regenerative farming was implemented with the goal of restoring the land from decades of degrading practices and setting up systems for a future of more sustainable, balanced, and holistic farming. This included extensive fencing for natural weed management and segregation of threatened ecosystems, removal of intensive weeds, promotion of plant and animal biodiversity, replanting of threatened plant species, land and soil restoration, and the introduction of bee hives for natural pollination of vines.
In the second stage of the program, Torbreck focused on using modern (and traditional) viticultural technology to minimise impacts on the environment while improving vine health and grape quality. This included the use of leading-edge satellite technology to map soil profiles, new under vine crop management techniques and machinery to reduce weed spray, soil tilling, and erosion, highly targeted irrigation systems to minimize water use while maximizing efficiency and controlling yield, and the planting of a range of new Rhone grape varieties chosen for their drought tolerance and suitability to the Barossa's warm climate.
The final stage of the project involves the restoration of the heritage buildings and vineyards on the estate. In 2017, Torbreck began rejuvenating the oldest Shiraz vineyard on the property, the 1-acre "Old Shiraz" vineyard planted in 1850. Left forlorn and far from its true potential over the years, the vineyard was rejuvenated through careful attention to improving soil health and traditional hand pruning. Today, the vineyard produces exceptional and distinctive shiraz grapes, fitting of the stature of the vineyard.
Torbreck is dedicated to taking a long term approach to farming and winemaking, prioritising quality winegrowing and sustainable vineyard practices across all their vineyards. These practices have become a fundamental part of Torbreck's operations, reflecting a commitment to the longevity of the Barossa as one of the world’s premier wine growing regions and visitor destinations.