Brokenwood Wines Purchases Oakey Creek Vineyard

Pictured L-R; Kate Sturgess, Winemaker / Stuart Hordern, Senior Winemaker / Katrina Barry, Hunter Vineyards Manager. Photography by MJK Creative.

Brokenwood Wines has seized a once-in-a-generation opportunity that secures ownership of their most important Semillon site, the Oakey Creek Vineyard, and significantly increases their Hunter Valley vineyard holdings.

Brokenwood has long sought ownership of a remarkable Semillon vineyard to complement their Graveyard Vineyard, home to the acclaimed Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz and the only vineyard in the Hunter Valley to produce a wine classified as “Exceptional” by the Langton’s Classification.

With the Oakey Creek purchase, Brokenwood now owns two of the most prestigious Hunter Valley sites, while keeping land ownership in the region and ensuring the continuation of local fruit production.

Planted in 1982 by pioneer winemaking family the Drayton’s, it saw subsequent plantings in 1984, 1986 and 1989, and is today one of the valley’s most awarded sites.

Brokenwood has purchased Semillon from the vineyard since the early 1990’s and accounts for about 25% of their overall Semillon production. During this time, it has been the backbone of fruit supply for their award-winning Semillons such as the Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon and the iconic ILR Reserve Semillon.

“While we’ve always had a great working relationship with the Drayton family, ownership ensures greater control and ability to adapt our viticulture to suit the site. This is also a statement of Brokenwood’s confidence in the bright future of our region and the world-class nature of the Hunter Valley” says Brokenwood Senior Winemaker, Stuart Hordern.

The vineyard’s composition provides a combination of free draining alluvial over clay soil with a gentle easterly facing rise, providing almost prefect growing conditions for Semillon.

Brokenwood Wines currently has their 2017 Oakey Creek Vineyard Semillon available for purchase at www.brokenwood.com.au