TARRAWARRA ESTATE - Wednesday 21/10/26

Service Description

Founded by Marc and Eva Besen in 1979, TarraWarra Estate has become one of the Yarra Valley’s defining estates — a place where old vines, serious wine, architecture, art and an extraordinary sense of place all meet. The first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines were planted in 1983, and those two varieties remain at the heart of TarraWarra’s reputation. Today the estate is particularly celebrated for elegant, site-driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, alongside a growing collection of single-vineyard wines showcasing the diversity of the Yarra Valley. At the centre of its current chapter is winemaker Sarah Fagan. After two decades at De Bortoli Yarra Valley, plus vintage experience at Littorai in California, Sarah joined TarraWarra in 2023, bringing a deep understanding of cool-climate winemaking, balance and vineyard expression. Her impact has been immediate: the 2024 Swallowfield Vineyard Chardonnay received 97+ points from Halliday, while the 2024 Southern Slope Chardonnay and Swallowfield Pinot Noir both earned 96 points and Gold. Alongside Sarah is General Manager Samantha Isherwood, who also joined in 2023 and has helped drive a renewed focus on vineyard health, sustainability, quality and an even stronger expression of place. Together with the vineyard team, this new era at TarraWarra is already attracting serious attention. Halliday rates TarraWarra as a five-star winery and has placed it among Australia’s Top 100 Wineries — recognition that sits comfortably alongside its long-standing reputation as one of the Yarra Valley’s landmark producers. TarraWarra is famous for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, old-vine pedigree and wines of precision and restraint — but it is equally famous for being more than a winery. Its striking subterranean cellar door, acclaimed restaurant and neighbouring TarraWarra Museum of Art have made the estate one of the Yarra Valley’s great wine destinations. TarraWarra is an Icon of Industry because it helped define the modern Yarra Valley — and continues to shape its future.