Brokenwood was established in 1970 by three Sydney-based solicitors, Tony Albert, John Beeston and James Halliday [none of whom claimed to know anything about viticulture at the time]. They bought a 10 acre site in the foothills of the Brokenback Range in New South Wales, and what began as a weekend venture for hobby winemakers evolved into one of Australia's most reputable wine labels. Brokenwood's first vintage was picked in 1973 and attracted a loyal following. It was a real labour of love with the partners enlisting the help of friends and family, and in 1975 a new winery was built to accommodate the growing production. Six new partners joined in 1978, and the next door Graveyard vineyard was purchased – originally intended to be a cemetery it was planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz instead! The Brokenwood Graveyard Single Vineyard Shiraz has become their flagship red wine, and is still sourced exclusively from this one vineyard today. It was in this same year that Brokenwood began to source grapes from outside the Hunter Valley, and this has become their trademark style: sourcing premium fruit from the best regions throughout Australia to showcase true regional and varietal expression in their wines. They consequently present a staggering portfolio featuring sparkling, white, red, dessert and fortified wines which all, apart from the sparkling, are bottled under screw cap. Their flagship white wine the ILR Reserve Semillon, has been voted best Semillon of the year in the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion twice - in 2014 and 2020. That weekend hobby and endeavour have culminated in a stable of award-winning wines known globally for their outstanding quality.