Wirra Wirra agrees deal to acquire Hahndorf Hill winery

McLaren Vale’s Wirra Wirra has agreed to acquire award-winning Adelaide Hills winery Hahndorf Hill, including its Austrian-inspired cellar door and vineyards.

Wirra Wirra chief executive Matthew Deller, left, with Hahndorf Hill founders Larry Jacobs and Marc Dobson. Picture: Supplied by Wirra Wirra

McLaren Vale winery Wirra Wirra has agreed to a deal to take over award-winning Adelaide Hills producer Hahndorf Hill, including its Austrian-inspired cellar door and a rare mix of red and white grape vineyards.

Hahndorf Hill was listed for sale last August following a decision by co-owner Larry Jacobs to retire due to ill health.

Mr Jacobs, a former intensive care doctor and founder of South Africa’s iconic Mulderbosch Vineyards, and Marc Dobson, a former journalist, acquired the winery close to 25 years ago, and have since expanded the vineyard plantings, which comprise a mix of Rosé, Pinot Grigio and Shiraz.

Hahndorf Hill is also the only Australian vineyard to grow Saint Laurent, an Austrian red grape variety similar to Pinot Noir, and is also the nation’s leading producer of Grüner Veltliner, considered to be Austria’s flagship grape.

Other vines include Blaufrankisch, a red variety planted by the original founder of Hahndorf Hill Wines in the 1980s, and Zweigelt, another red variety used by the winery to create Australia’s first Zweigelt wine.

The Hahndorf Hill cellar door.

Wirra Wirra chief executive Matthew Deller said the acquisition expanded the company’s presence in the Adelaide Hills following its acquisition of Ashton Hills Vineyard in 2015.

“At a time when the Australian wine industry is facing real challenges, we’re choosing to invest in quality, authenticity and long-term growth,” he said.

“Larry and Marc have created something truly special. Hahndorf Hill fits perfectly with our vision for the future.”

The 9.06ha Hahndorf Hill estate, on the northern fringe of the Hahndorf town centre, includes 6.1ha of vineyards and a spectacular cellar door that has been inducted into the South Australian Great Tourism Hall of Fame. It sells close to 8000 cases of wine annually.

Last year Hahndorf Hill’s 2023 Reserve Grüner Veltliner was named best wine from Australia at the Frankfurt International Wine Trophy, and also took top honours in the Grüner Veltliner category – beating leading producers out of Austria and Germany.

Inside the Hahndorf Hill cellar door.

Mr Deller said there was an opportunity to ramp up the export of Hahndorf Hill wines to regions including Southeast Asia.

“Wirra Wirra brings a lot of resources ... and so the idea is that we grow Hahndorf Hill both domestically and globally,” he said.

“I think the zeitgeist is with us – we’re in a period of time where white wine is growing and there’s a growing interest in varieties like Grüner Veltliner, but also within the classic cool climate varieties that they work with like Pinot Grigio and Rosé.”

Mr Jacobs, who has previously described himself as the “Grandfather of Gruner”, said the ownership duo were now ready to retire from the wine industry, leaving behind a legacy of “pioneering spirit and precision winemaking”.

“Marc and I are thrilled that Wirra Wirra will be taking over the reins,” he said.

“The Wirra Wirra team has all the skills and enthusiasm to take Hahndorf Hill to the next level.”

Originally published as Wirra Wirra agrees deal to acquire Hahndorf Hill winery