James Tilbrook

James Tilbrook’s family home is in South Suffolk, England.  As a young man he worked for the wine merchant, Oddbins, in and around London, and spent his summer holidays cycling around the wine regions of France. In 1996 he turned his attention to winemaking, organising a working holiday in Australia just before which he met his future Australian wife, Annabelle. He worked several “vintages” including in Oregon in 1997 and they married in January 1998. He emigrated to Australia soon after. Further vintages were done at Pipers Brook Vineyard in Tasmania, and Mountadam in the High Eden Valley in South Australia.

James soon realised that to make great wine one needs to grow great grapes, and he decided to establish his own vineyard. A search of Australian cool climate regions eventually led him to Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills and the first eight acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were planted in 1999.

Since then a further three acres have been planted, including one acre of Sauvignon Blanc in 2003, an acre of Chardonnay for sparkling wine base in 2004, and in 2006 an acre of Pinot Gris was added to supply grapes for their very popular dessert wine.

Annabelle Tilbrook

Annabelle Tilbrook was born and raised in the warmth of South East Queensland before searching out cooler climes on a seven-year journey through Tasmania, England and the Scottish Highlands.

The natural beauty of the cooler climate landscapes appealed to Annabelle and it was during her time in Tasmania she became enamoured with the delicate flavours of its wine and delightful seasonal produce. She married English born James in 1998, and they spent their early married life in Hobart and at Pipers Brook in Northern Tasmania before deciding to pursue James’ vigneron dreams.

After much searching they settled in the beautiful Lenswood region in the Adelaide Hills and many a weekend in the early days was spent, boots and hat on, establishing what was to become an award-winning vineyard. Now she helps out in the cellar door whenever she can.

Pippa Tilbrook

Pippa Tilbrook is possibly the naughtiest and friendliest English Springer Spaniel in the Adelaide Hills. She is well known for her thievery and rapid consumption of pumpkin scones, roast chickens and generally anything remotely edible. Foibles aside, she is a wonderful children’s dog (when there’s no food around) and can sometimes be seen snoozing in the cellar door on (to Annabelle’s horror) the red sofa. Most weekends she is banned from the cellar door having disgraced herself once too often by nosing out and then devouring food brought in by unsuspecting customers! She is more likely to be found in the cellar door on weekdays whilst James works away on the wines.

Check out the ”green cover” edition of “Wine Dogs” by Craig McGill where Pippa is featured in all her glory, on page 88.