Château Tanunda’s origins trace back to the onset of phylloxera in Europe’s vineyards. Sensing an opportunity, the founder’s grand vision was to build a Château dedicated to crafting fine-quality wines to share with the world. At the time, Australia was home to many small wineries, but the vision was to create the first winemaking Château in Australia that would rival the French in production and quality. Château Tanunda would become the largest winery in the Southern Hemisphere at the time, and the beginning of winemaking in Australia in earnest. European immigrants had been planting vines in the Barossa since the 1840s, so the region was a natural choice. The resulting wines, made from grapes produced by 560 local growers (paid a pound per gallon – a substantial sum at the time), were shipped to a wine-starved Europe.

For years it was the heart of Barossa winemaking. A veritable “Ivy League” of Australian winemakers worked or studied at Château Tanunda, including Prof. Soebels, Australia’s first qualified Oenologist; Bill Seppelt; Grant Burge; Robert O”Callaghan, Geoff Merrill and others. In recognition of its rich history, Château Tanunda is on the Register of State Heritage Places and was the winery to produce the 1972 Jimmy Watson Trophy winner. Abandoned by its then-owner, Australian wine giant Southcorp, the property was a shell of its former glory until John Geber chanced upon the site. Since 1998 John and his family have been breathing new life into the Château, revitalising the site and the Château Tanunda brand. It is again recognised amongst the elite of Australian wine producers and exports to over 30 countries around the world.