Family Winemaking Heritage

David Dunstan suggests that the Purbrick family made Tahbilk a bridge for carrying forward the culture of wine from the nineteenth century to the twentieth. Entrepreneur Reginald Purbrick certainly recognized a good deal when he saw it – he too saw gold in the rich river soil. His son Eric had inherited his fine palate, a love of wine, intelligence, charm and energy as well as an appreciation of history. Thanks to him Tahbilk escaped the wholesale modernization of the 1960s while he recreated a vineyard producing fine table wine and contributing to the emerging Australian wine industry. Eric’s son John quietly rebuilt the marketing arm, while his son Alister brought management skills and modern techniques to old wine-making traditions. It is Alister’s daughter Hayley who will guide the winery into the 21 st century, ensuring that the winery’s future develops in sustainable balance with its environment.