Over 150 Years of History

Millbrook is a boutique winery and acclaimed restaurant in the historic town of Jarrahdale in the Perth Hills wine region of Western Australia – 50 minutes south-east of the capital Perth. The winery is located at picturesque Chestnut Farm, nestled among jarrah forests with stunning vistas of the rolling landscape.

The origins of Chestnut Farm date back to the 19th century when the original owner, Joseph Batt, planted an orchard and grapevines in 1865. Batt’s winemaking landed him in the Supreme Court where he was fined for selling wine from the premises without a colonial licence.

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Millbrook Winery turns 20

It’s a milestone, but we are just getting started

The 20 Year Story of Millbrook Winery

A family affair

In1996 Peter and Lee Fogarty, together with their three teenage children, planted the first Millbrook vines at Chestnut Farm – a true labour of love. Further plantings included Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with a focus on Shiraz and Viognier. Peter had long admired the Northern Rhône style of Shiraz Viognier and after finding it difficult to source in Western Australia set out to produce his own. It is now one of Millbrook’s flagship wines. Today the vineyard comprises a mix of plantings, including alternative varieties, with 8 hectares under vine.

The Terroir

Chestnut Farm provided the perfect site to plant vines, particularly for the varieties of Shiraz and Viognier with the terroir – the coming together of site, soil and climate – similar to the Northern Rhône wine region. The property is made up of undulating land with excellent top soil of clay over coffee rock, gravel and granite. The region’s warm, dry summers and cool nights ripen grapes to perfection.

Natural Watercourse

The Chestnut Farm property has a natural watercourse with a mix of bountiful springs, dams and an expansive lake. This water supply was another factor in developing the property into a vineyard and winery. Millbrook is committed to sustaining this valuable resource and protecting and enhancing its very special environment.

Winery Construction

Construction of the winery commenced in 1999 and was completed in 2001. It is now a stunning home to the modern winemaking facility, barrel halls, tasting room and restaurant. The building features local jarrah, marri, blackbutt and sheoak, while the striking colonnade arches are crafted from granite rock sourced from the property. Millbrook truly showcases the natural beauty and products of the Perth Hills region.

SMALL-BATCH PRODUCTION

Millbrook Winery has been specially designed for small-batch, quality wine production. The split-level design is both compact and efficient, allowing the gravity transfer of juice and wine, while temperature-controlled barrel halls mature the wines in the finest French and American oak barrels under optimum conditions. Millbrook’s approach to winemaking produces outstanding wines and receives acclaim both in Australia and internationally.

Fogarty Wine Group Forms

Following the success of Millbrook Winery, the Fogarty family’s passion for wine continued. The family has now created a stunning portfolio of wine brands across Australia, which form the Fogarty Wine Group. They include Lake’s Folly in the Hunter Valley; Evans & Tate, Deep Woods Estate and Smithbrook in Western Australia; Dalwhinnie in the Pyrenees; and Lowestoft in Tasmania. The key focus is on quality from the vineyard to the finished bottle so that distinctive, world-class wines are consistently produced.

We’re proud to be where we are today and excited to look forward to where we’ll be in another 20 years.