Briar Ridge Celebrates 50 Years of History with an Unmissable Long Lunch Event Details

Nestled against the mountainside of Mount View, in what is widely regarded as the most picturesque area of the Hunter Valley, is a small boutique winery named Briar Ridge.

This ‘classically radical’ vineyard is quickly gaining a reputation for innovative winemaking, with the winner of the 2022 Young Achiever of the Year at the Hunter Legend Awards, Alex Beckett, at the helm, steering a bright future for the winery. This innovation is firmly supported by a foundation in tradition and well-established vines that enjoy a long history. It is these vines, planted 50 years ago in 1972, that the winery is celebrating this year with their biggest event in a decade – the Briar Ridge Vineyard 50th Jubilee Long Lunch in the Vines to be held on 5 November 2022.

The history of the winery began in 1972 when Murray Robson planted the first vines - pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, some Portuguese port varieties described as merlot, a small amount of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, in what was then called Squire Vineyard, and by 1975 the wines produced from these vines were already winning gold medals. The name changed to Robson Vineyard in 1978, by which time it had developed into a fully-fledged winery. Fast forward to 1987, and John Davis purchased the property because, as a geologist, he recognised the unique climate, topography and soil that the area offered winemaking.

As the original owner wrote on a plaque that is on display at the winery, “Mount View is a tiny valley over 600 feet above the surrounding plains. This height has created a microclimate that avoids temperature extremes and allows the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly over a longer period, thus assisting the aromatics and flavour depth of all wines.”

In 1988 the Davis family reoriented the rows and replanted the vineyard. In 1991 they established one of the very first vintage wine clubs, which remains the longest-running contemporary wine club in the Hunter Valley. Around that same time, Hunter Valley legendary winemaker Karl Stockhausen joined Briar Ridge, releasing his first vintage in 1991, which won best wine in show at the Hunter Valley Wine Show for his shiraz. The Stockhausen label wines continue to win many awards for the winery.

Winemaker: Alex Beckett

Briar Ridge is a James Halliday 5-star rated winery and recently took out the award for “Other White (& Blends) Wine of the Year” at the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Awards with the 2021 Limited Release Albariño by winemaker Alex Beckett. The winery has also been awarded a gold medal at this week’s Hunter Valley Wine Show for the 2013 Stockhausen Signature Semillon.

The Briar Ridge Vineyard 50th Jubilee Long Lunch in the Vines is an exclusive event with tickets available at a cost of $250 per person. Members have been given access to pre-released tickets, but to celebrate in style, the event is now being opened to the public. In a first for the winery, the event will be held alongside the vines themselves with three-course catering by the two-hatted Muse Restaurant, canapes and sparkling upon arrival, all wines by Briar Ridge Vineyard – large format, museum, rare and single vineyard wines, live music, prizes to be won and a charity auction with proceeds going to local children’s charities. Auction items will include wine, food and wine experiences and private masterclasses with the Briar Ridge winemaker, Alex Beckett, as well as lots of other goodies. MC for the day will be auctioneer and real estate personality Sean Redpath of McGrath Newcastle, and Alex Beckett will be on hand to take the guests through their wine experiences of the day. Bus transfers from Cessnock, Pokolbin and Lovedale areas are also included in the ticket price.

This once-in-a-decade event is sure to sell out. Tickets are available through www.briarridge.com.au/Events