Mr Tulloch is a fourth generation winemaker, with the Tulloch name being established in the Hunter in the mid 1800s. Keith Tulloch Wine has been creating handmade premium wines since 1997, but the vines which produce the grapes are steeped in history. 

“The vines are 90-year-old and were planted by his great-grandparents,” Keith’s wife and co-owner Amanda said. “This a special site which is truly Hunter and original.”

In the late 1990s Keith and Amanda realised a dream, branching out on their own to establish their winery.

“Keith wanted to follow his own direction, use his own ideas to make small batch, unique, personally stamped wines in the style he believed was true to the Hunter Valley and his heritage,” Ms Tulloch said. “Our signature is the Kester Shiraz. It is the flagship wine, the one which truly represents Keith and his belief in the Hunter Valley and his true traditions of wine making.”

The traditions Keith uses as foundations for his business follow the principles of French-styled shiraz making. Ms Tulloch describes the process as hands-on, involving a lot of time and care.

“That means we work in our own vineyard growing our own fruit. We make our own wine in our own winery and sell the majority of our wine through our cellar door,” she said. “It is very respectful to the age of the fruit, there is no hurry. It is a style which was adapted in Australia in the early period.” 

With a dedicated team, including six family members, the company, which continues to grow as nicely as the grapes, received a nod in the small business category of this year’s awards. 

“We feel like everyone is part of our family,” Ms Tulloch said.

“The business award nomination is a great accolade for our company which has come from a small ideal and is now acknowledged in the Valley and the region. It’s a great achievement.”