Wynns
Summary
Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Treasury Wine Estates' flagship producer with 900 hectares under vine in South Australia's Coonawarra region, specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grown on the area's distinctive terra rossa soils. Their winemaking balances tradition with innovation, preserving genetic material from vineyards dating to 1954 while producing structured, age-worthy wines that faithfully express Coonawarra's unique terroir.
Heritage & Leadership
Wynns Coonawarra Estate traces its origins to 1891 when Scottish pioneer John Riddoch established the Coonawarra Fruit Colony, planting the first vines in what would become one of Australia's premier wine regions. The property changed hands several times before Melbourne wine merchants Samuel and Edith Wynn purchased the estate in 1951, giving the winery its current name. Under the Wynn family's direction, the estate focused on showcasing the exceptional terroir of Coonawarra, particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Today, Wynns operates as part of Treasury Wine Estates' portfolio of premium Australian wine brands. The winemaking team is led by Sue Hodder, who joined Wynns in 1993 and has served as Senior Winemaker since 1998. Hodder works alongside winemaker Sarah Pidgeon, with the pair forming one of Australia's most experienced and respected winemaking partnerships. Their collaborative approach has maintained Wynns' position as a benchmark producer of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon while expanding the estate's range to include other varieties suited to the region.
Vineyards & Wines
Wynns' vineyards span approximately 900 hectares across Coonawarra, making it the region's largest vineyard holder. The estate's plantings are predominantly situated on the famous terra rossa soil—a distinctive red clay loam over limestone that defines Coonawarra's narrow cigar-shaped strip. This soil profile, combined with the cool maritime climate, creates ideal conditions for producing structured, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon.
The vineyard holdings include some of Australia's oldest Cabernet Sauvignon plantings, with blocks dating back to 1954. These mature vines contribute to the flagship John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, produced only in exceptional vintages from the top 1% of available fruit. The estate also produces Michael Shiraz from select parcels of Shiraz, along with a range of single-vineyard wines that express the subtle variations in Coonawarra's terroir.
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the plantings, accounting for approximately 60% of the estate's vineyards, followed by Shiraz and smaller plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and white varieties including Chardonnay and Riesling. The vineyards are planted at elevations between 60 and 80 meters above sea level on the relatively flat Coonawarra plateau.
Philosophy & Practice
Wynns' winemaking philosophy centers on expressing the distinctive character of Coonawarra through wines that balance power with elegance and demonstrate excellent aging potential. The team employs a combination of traditional and modern techniques, with a focus on gentle handling throughout the winemaking process.
Fermentation occurs in a mix of open and closed fermenters, with careful attention to extraction levels based on the fruit quality and intended wine style. The estate's red wines typically undergo malolactic fermentation in a combination of new and seasoned French oak barrels, with aging periods varying by wine tier—from 12 months for the entry-level wines to 18-24 months for the flagship offerings.
In the vineyards, Wynns implements sustainable viticulture practices, including comprehensive soil management, water conservation, and canopy management tailored to each vineyard block. The estate has undertaken an extensive replanting program since the early 2000s, introducing new clones and rootstocks while preserving the genetic material from their oldest and most successful vineyards.
Wynns maintains a detailed understanding of their diverse vineyard sites through soil mapping and climate monitoring, allowing for precise vineyard management decisions. This data-driven approach, combined with generations of experience in Coonawarra, enables the team to consistently produce wines that reflect both the vintage conditions and the distinctive characteristics of this unique Australian wine region.