BROKENBACK VINEYARD
PLANTED IN THE LATE 1960's
The Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s best-known wine regions and has played a pivotal role in the history of the Australian wine industry as one of the first wine regions to be planted in the early 19th century.
The Brokenback Vineyard is located at the foothills of the Brokenback Range in Pokolbin, New South Wales, and uses a range of viticultural practices to preserve fruit characters and protect against regional challenges such as frost, vintage rains, and humidity. Vineyard rows are sown with indigenous grasses, artificial inputs are avoided wherever possible, and Leogate Estate promotes traditional natural farming techniques and sustainability.
The grape varietals grown across the original 50 hectares consisted of Semillon, Chardonnay, and Shiraz. Leogate’s vineyard team have since added Verdelho, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Tempranillo, so increasing the hectares under vine to 100 hectares.
BLACKCLUSTER VINEYARD
HUNTER VALLEY
The Black Cluster Vineyard was originally owned by the iconic Wyndham Estate and then the French Orlando Group. The name of the vineyard originated in 1835 when George Wyndham crushed his first vintage and penned the following entry into his diary. “Began my vintage. Filled the pipe with the must of the Black Cluster”.
Leogate acquired the Black Cluster Vineyard in 2020. This single-vineyard sits at the foothills of the Brokenback Mountain Range and is predominantly planted to Shiraz with a vine age of 50 years. Black Cluster Vineyard has produced renowned Hunter Valley examples of Shiraz that have been internationally recognised over the years.
The vineyard also has a 15-hectare planting of Semillon which is positioned at the base of the vineyard, against the Singleton Army Base, which runs along an old creek bed. This Semillon will be labelled as “Army Block”.
ZEAL'S VINEYARD
GULGONG
Leogate Estate acquired this certified organic, high-altitude, vineyard in the Central Ranges of New South Wales in 2016.
Now known as “Zeals Vineyard” it sits approximately 600 metres above sea level and was planted 25 years ago by the Liverpool Plains cotton-growing Finlay family.
This working vineyard is situated on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range and adheres to NASAA certified organic practices to maintain healthy vines and soils through using biodegradable inputs and grape compost throughout the vineyard, conserving water usage, preserving local ecosystems and wildlife habitats throughout the vineyard.
During winter, our vineyard team introduces a flock of sheep into the property to assist with weed control and fertilising the soils while maintaining our Organic standards.