Old Vine Charter

Barossa’s multi-generational vineyards, among the world’s oldest, have survived floods, fires, and industry shifts. These dry-grown, low-yield vines produce concentrated, long-lived wines highly sought after internationally. The Barossa Old Vine Charter now safeguards these rare plantings.

“Our old vineyard was planted by the Graetz family in 1848 and is the oldest continuously producing Grenache vineyard in the world. They are not good because they are old, they are old because they’re good. They stayed in the ground all of those years because they produced good wine consistently. In the hotter years they manage the heat better than younger vines, and in wetter years they plod along at about the same pace producing soft, delicate Grenache, year in, year out. Young vines make great wines too but they are more affected by the environment. Our old vines are part of the environment.”

Marco Cirillo, Cirillo Wines

Cirillo Estate Wines - Grenache
Cirillo Estate, 1850 Grenache

Barossa Ancestor Vine

Equal or greater than 125 years of age

An Ancestor vine has stood strong and proud for at least one hundred and twenty five years – a living tribute to the early European settlers of Barossa. Their genetic material has helped to populate the region with irreplaceable old stocks that underpin the viticultural tradition. They tend to be dry-grown, low-yielding vines with great intensity of flavour, and are believed to be among the oldest producing vines in the world.

Examples

  • Cirillo Estate, 1850 Grenache, Barossa Valley
  • Hewitson, Old Garden Mourvèdre, Koch Family Pilgrim Vineyard, Barossa, 1853
  • Langmeil, The Freedom 1843 Shiraz, Barossa Valley
  • Henschke, Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley
  • Penfolds, Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley
  • Poonawatta Estate, The 1880 Shiraz, Eden Valley
  • Chateau Tanunda, 150 Year Old Vine Semillon, Barossa Valley
  • Elderton, Command Single Vineyard Shiraz, Barossa Valley
  • Turkey Flat, The Ancestor Shiraz, Barossa Valley
  • Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache, Barossa Valley, planted 1889
  • Purple Hands, Planta Circa Ancestor Vine Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Barossa Valley,  (Caiazza Family, originally ‘Woodlands’ PF Zimmermann Vineyard, planted 1885)
Yalumba - Steeple Vineyard
Yalumba, Steeple Vineyard

Barossa Centenarian Vine

Equal or greater than 100 years of age

These exceptionally old vines serve as witness to Barossa’s resilience in the face of adversity. Barossa, unlike many other of the world’s great wine regions, is phylloxera-free, which allowed these vines to mature into their naturally-sculptured forms with thick, gnarly trunks. They have very low yields and can produce wines with high intensity of flavour. Planted generations ago, when dry-farming techniques required careful site selection, Centenarian vines have truly withstood the tes of time.

Examples

The Willows Vineyard - Old Vine Semillon - 1
The Willows Vineyard, Single Vineyard Semillon

Barossa Survivor Vine

Equal or greater than 75 years of age

These very old vines are a living symbol of traditional values in a modern environment and signal a renewed respect for Barossa old vine material. They have weathered the worst of many storms, both man-made and naturally occurring, including the infamous 1980s Vine Pull scheme. A Barossa Survivor vine has reached a significant milestone and pays homage to the resolute commitment of those growers and winemakers who value the quality and structure of old vine wines.

Examples

Pewsey Vale - The Contours Riesling
Pewsey Vale, The Contours Riesling

Barossa Old Vine

Equal or greater than 35 years of age

These old vines have grown beyond adolescence and are now fully mature. They have a root structure and trunk thickness that encourages diversity of flavour and character. Their worthiness has been proven over many vintages, consistently producing the highest quality fruit for Barossa wines of distinction and longevity.

Examples

Barossa boasts some of the oldest surviving vineyards in the world, with some dating back to 1843. This longevity is credited to South Australia’s strict quarantine policies, which protected vines from the devastating phylloxera outbreak that wiped out 90% of European vineyards in the 19th century.
 
The region’s Silesian settlers, known for their frugality, preserved vines that continued to produce quality fruit, contributing to Barossa’s rich winemaking heritage. In the 1980s, a movement to modernise vineyards saw many old vines removed, but dedicated advocates preserved key plantings, particularly Shiraz and Grenache. In 2009, the Barossa Old Vine Charter was introduced to recognise and protect these ancient vineyards, classifying vines into four age-based categories and ensuring their continued legacy in producing world-renowned wines.

“We were the first to acknowledge that these old Shiraz vineyards were a rare and valuable resource in the Barossa, something that we should value and protect. There was definitely a distinctiveness about the wines that came from them. For me the realisation of how precious these vineyards were, was a turning point in my winemaking career.”

Robert O’Callaghan, Rockford Wines

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Barossa Vintage Festival

85+ events | 23-27 April 2025