A Slice Of Winemaking Paradise: The Legacy Of Briar Ridge Vineyard

The most recent Halliday Guide awarded 10 of Briar Ridge’s current wines 95/96 points and shortlisted the winery as one of the 12 best-value wineries in Australia. Truly a great testament to the Brand and its place in the NSW wine landscape.

Since its very first vines were planted in 1972, Briar Ridge Vineyard has been crafting and perfecting its range of Hunter Valley classics and its premium Single Vineyard and Stockhausen Signature series, as well as its limited releases and varietal ranges, in order to ensure a novel tasting experience for every individual that walks through its cellar doors. With the state of New South Wales offering tough competition in the art of winemaking, it’s no small feat for any vineyard to stand out above the rest - but Briar Ridge does precisely this, and its winning streak has no end in sight. 

As with any vineyard, a combination of factors contributes to Briar Ridge’s ongoing success. But at the heart of it is the excellent quality of its wines. Mount View’s optimal location in the Hunter Valley makes it the perfect ground to grow high-quality fruit of a unique character and outstanding flavour. 

Discover The Award-Winning Wines Of Briar Ridge's Single Vineyards

Briar Ridge’s single vineyards - Dairy Hill and Briar Hill - have produced wines that, collectively, boast twenty-seven trophies and countless gold medals. Rich, fertile, limestone-based soil creates the perfect environment for grape growing, producing fruit that is layered with flavour and distinct to the Mount View region. Prime elevation, a warm climate scattered with cool breezes, and a highly selective yield are all additional factors that come into play when capturing the perfect flavour in a Briar Ridge wine bottle. 

The establishment offers many picturesque settings where wine tasters can relish the award-winning wines produced from a small yield of hand-selected fruit. Whether visitors prefer a fireside picnic, an outdoor dog-friendly Wine Deck, a cosy indoor setting surrounded by old winemaking equipment, or even a lavish helicopter trip over the valley followed by a private food and wine pairing at the vineyard, Briar Ridge has considered every possible desire and found a way to centre it around its premium wine offerings. 

Open to the public seven days a week, the Briar Ridge Cellar Door tailors every tasting experience to individual palates and focuses on quality, with top premium wines on offer. The atmosphere is a combination of friendly relaxation and professionalism, guided by knowledgeable hosts whose aim is to impart valuable expertise and a genuine enthusiasm for the highly crafted wines on offer. Food pairings intended to compliment the wines during such an experience are made from locally sourced produce, such as olives from the neighbouring farm and honey from hives located on the Briar Ridge property. 

The pinnacle of the vineyard’s portfolio can be experienced during their Radica tasting, a uniquely Single Vineyard-inspired event during which expert hosts guide visitors through a minimum of eight premium wines, most of them multi-award-winning, and accompanying canapés. Open discussion and comparison of the wines are encouraged, in order to enhance deep understanding and appreciation for the craftsmanship. An exclusive Club Radica membership gives tasters access to Single Vineyard wines and winemakers’ events that are not publicly available. 

Meet Briar Ridge's New General Manager, Michael Bentley

General Manager Michael Bentley, who has been pursuing his passion for winemaking since 1992, began working with the team at Briar Ridge in July 2021 and has honed his focus on developing elite wines with global recognition during this time. Since the launch of his career in the Yarra Valley, he has accumulated valuable experience in the winemaking and grape-growing profession in the regions of Bellarine, Gippsland, Tumbarumba, and Hunter Valley. In May 2021, he connected with Jaclyn Davis, owner of Briar Ridge, and subsequently came to fulfil the role of General Manager shortly after. During his time managing the business, he has developed a particular favour for the 2013 Semillons and, his first choice, the Briar Hill Chardonnay’s. 

Bentley believes that the secret to the vineyard’s success, and its distinction from competing wine estates, lies in its recognition that all tasters are on a unique wine journey and that every palate must be deeply understood and catered to. The Briar Ridge team works together to enhance each visitor’s experience by sharing their expansive knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for trying something new and exciting. 

While in agreement, Davis is quicker to attribute the establishment’s success to her dedicated and hardworking team. The genuine, down-to-earth pleasure and enjoyment of the Briar Ridge experience, rather than pretentiousness and ostentation being the focus, is something that she believes makes their initiative unique. 

While every wine variety on offer at Briar Ridge is carefully selected and highly crafted, probably the most notable variety is the special edition Stockhausen Signature wine range, created as a homage to the legendary Australian winemaker Karl Stockhausen. The range consists of three premium wines: the 2023 Stockhausen Semillon, the 2022 Stockhausen Chardonnay, and the 2022 Stockhausen Shiraz. The process of making these wines and their award-winning flavours reflect the classic style in which Stockhausen enjoyed crafting and consuming wines throughout his celebrated career. 

In fact, of all Briar Ridge’s many accolades and awards, the one the team is most proud to display is the coveted Karl Stockhausen trophy. “It’s a great honour, and it means a great deal to keep Karl’s name in the forefront of Hunter Valley history,” says Bentley. They’re also particularly proud to have received James Halliday’s red 5-star winery rating, a title awarded to just 8% of wineries in Australia. 

Apart from their beloved wines, Briar Ridge winemaker Alex Beckett is also colourfully awarded for his work on the vineyard. Being named the Young Achiever of the Year at the Hunter Valley Legends and Wine Industry Awards in 2022 was a solidifier of his efforts, and he continues to master his trade at the Institute of Masters of Wine Study Program, where he practices as one of only thirteen students in the country currently. 

When he’s not cooking, gardening, walking his dogs, and spending time with his family at the beach, Bentley frequently collaborates with Beckett on styles and new offerings to ‘wow’ visitors. Recently, they’ve been exploring fruit products from other premium regions in an attempt to enhance the vineyard’s portfolio. 

So, what’s next for one of Australia’s most prized jewels in the winemaking industry? In order to capitalise on its current recognition and maintain its upward trajectory, the team at Briar Ridge are currently looking to position the vineyard as a leader in premium winemaking and the owner of some of Australia’s best wines. 

After recently celebrating the vineyard’s 50th birthday in 2022, the team at Briar Ridge are reflecting on everything the journey has offered them thus far and all that the future might hold. While their recent slew of awards is indeed satisfying and rewarding for their hard work, it’s clear that they have no intention of sitting back and becoming complacent with the fruits of their labour. 

Beckett is exploring the use of state-of-the-art techniques to redefine Hunter Valley wines by capturing both the history and the future potential of the region. Sustainability practices are also being investigated for everyday use, such as lightweight bottles, solar power, and tank water. New premium offerings crafted with innovative flavour and top-of-the-range ingredients are well on their way to the public, Bentley assures - and he’s excited about the promise they hold. 

It’s easy for anyone who can appreciate the quality and pedigree associated with the horse racing and breeding industry in New South Wales to similarly admire Briar Ridge’s continuous quest for perfection and excellence in their winemaking. Bentley states, “As with many luxury industries, it’s the attention to detail that provides the best results.” Just as world-class wine can be crafted from a simple grape, so do these industries prove how luxury, high-end events can be formed from humble farming practices. 

By Dean McHugh