Our Story
Fifth-generation winemaker, Simon, founded the business in 2004, a century and a half after his great-great-grandfather, Joseph Gilbert of Pewsey Vale Estate, established Eden Valley’s first cool-climate vineyard and planted its first Riesling in 1847. He received numerous Colonial and International Awards for excellence. The Pewsey Vale Vineyard and Winery was handed down over generations until the site was sold in 1923.
Our Heritage
Simon and his son Will combine their passion and innovative spirit as they follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. Artisans of cool climate wines, together they produce elegant, pure and structured wines reflective of variety, site and season. The family legacy lives on through our Gilbert + Gilbert collection, which reflects the same fragrant, delicate, and pure characteristics of Eden Valley’s first wines in the 1850s.
Simon Gilbert
Recognised by peers and critics for his wisdom, insight and ability, Simon has devoted his career to delivering the region’s finest wines and mentoring younger winemakers.
Inspired by his heritage, Simon had his sights set on winemaking at 11 years old. He went on to study oenology and, after graduating from Roseworthy in 1977, developed his skills alongside industry-leading winemakers across the Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley and Coonawarra.
In 2004, Simon established The Gilbert Family Wine Company, offering wine consultancy, brokering and export services. He launched the Gilbert brand in 2010, a boutique label with the simple ethos to reflect the family heritage.
Using his experience and expertise, he produces classic wines including Riesling, Chardonnay and Shiraz; wines that are fine, elegant, and structured, with longevity and graceful ageing potential.
“I would consider Simon to be in the limited number of the very top bracket of Australian winemakers with a perceptive and analytical palate to match his technical skills.”
– Brian Croser, Founder and former Principal Winemaker of Petaluma, Principal and Winemaker Tappanappa
Will Gilbert
Sixth generation winemaker, Will Gilbert, brings a mix of modern innovation and creativity, along with classic winemaking techniques to the Gilbert brand.
Several overseas vintages, including Benjamin Leroux in Burgundy, Hidden Bench in Niagara, and Cedar Creek in Okanagan built on his experience and exposed him to a wide variety of winemaking practices.
Will is currently studying a Bachelor of Wine Science via distance at Charles Sturt University and has gone on to be recognised as one of the leading young winemakers in Australia.
Will’s passion is making wines that reflect variety, site, and season, and he loves to make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Young Winemaker of the Year Gourmet Traveller WINE 2021
Young Gun of Wine Top 50 2020 & 2021
Young Producer of the Year Different Drop 2021
Young Gun of Wine People’s Choice Award 2020
Encouragement Award for Up and Coming Australian Riesling Winemakers Canberra International Riesling Challenge 2017
“My style of wine is driven by the desire to showcase true varietal character while highlighting the site and season within which it was grown. Freshness, purity, uniqueness and texture, all in balance, is what I strive for. I love what I do and wouldn’t want to do anything else. Seeing people enjoy what you’ve spent the best part of a year, even longer, crafting for their enjoyment is amazing. Not only this but also the ability to mix the creative and the scientific.”
– Will Gilbert
Our Regions
Surrounded by rolling hills, our Mudgee vineyards are 520m above sea level. Grounded on a deep bed of shattered rock and quartz, the rich clay and loam soils of this beautiful landscape produce wines of great character and dimension.
Mudgee’s mild climate delays budburst with its cool Spring days and extends the grape ripening period with its cool summer nights. Thanks to the lower altitude, this region experiences warmer days throughout Summer and Autumn than Orange. In January, temperatures average around 23.5°C, with vineyards receiving just 600mm of rainfall each year. The Mudgee sunshine gives the grapes incredible colour and powerful flavour, while cooler temperatures increase complexity and create savoury qualities.
Mudgee is 3.5 hours from Sydney.
Orange is Australia’s highest wine-growing region, with vineyard elevation ranging from 600m to 1030m above sea level. The soil profile is predominantly clay loam with red and brown ferrosols derived from basalt. These fertile conditions add complexity and depth to the flavour and quality of the wines. Plentiful sunshine gives the fruit an intense aroma and flavour profile, lending wines a long, elegant mouth feel.
In January, the average temperature is 19.5°C, with a 20°C variance between the summer and winter months. Falling temperatures are sometimes followed by snow. The region receives around 1000mm of rainfall each year. Our Orange vineyards reap the benefits of a cooler climate, unique topography, and, during the growing season, over 9 hours of direct sunshine per day.
Orange is 3.5 hours from Sydney.
Honouring the Gilbert family heritage, Gilbert + Gilbert Riesling is sourced from premium growers in the Eden Valley.
Recognised for its rugged beauty, the region forms part of the Barossa Ranges with elevation ranging from 400m to 600m above sea level. Vineyards are scattered across diverse terrain, surrounded by grazing land, rocky outcrops and tall red gums. Elegant, refined and structured, Eden Valley wines have distinctive aromatics with character and finesse.
Altitude, aspect and slope are important factors in determining the mesoclimate of this hilly region. Experiencing an average of 229mm of rainfall each year, the overall growing season temperatures are significantly lower than in other parts of South Australia. As a result, the final stages of ripening and harvesting take place in much cooler conditions.
Eden Valley is 1.5 hours from Adelaide.
Cool-Climate Wines Reflective of Variety, Site, and Season.
Handcrafted Wines that Reflect our Regions
Our Future
As grape growers, winemakers, business owners and family members, we approach the future with curiosity, optimism and sustainability in mind. Guided by the past and inspired by contemporary techniques, we believe continuous learning and retrospection are key to creating the best wine possible.
As our business grows and evolves, we continue to welcome new perspectives, push boundaries and nurture emerging talent.
