Winery History
Samuel McWilliam
Pioneer winemaker Samuel McWilliam established his first vineyard in 1877 at Corowa, a village on the banks of the Murray River in New South Wales.
In the face of overwhelming obstacles, Samuel produced wines his family would be proud of for generations to come and founded a commitment to quality that lives on to this day.
John James McWilliam
Samuel's ambitious son, John, shared his father's passion for winemaking and vision. In 1913, he brought vines by ox cart to Hanwood, near Griffith in New South Wales.
Establishing the area as a winegrowing region. Hanwood offered fertile soil, brilliant sunshine and a ready supply of water. Four short years later, the McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Winery was producing premium vintage wine.
Maurice O'Shea
Australian wine pioneer Maurice O'Shea (1897-1956) was one of the first to recognize the special characteristics and longevity of Hunter Valley table wines, particularly Shiraz. He is today recognized as one of the most important and influential figures in the modern Australian wine industry. O'Shea was the chief winemaker at the McWilliam's Mount Pleasant winery from 1932 until his death in 1956. His legacy remains with McWilliam's, and with the industry as a whole. The McWilliam's Maurice O'Shea award recognizes the most outstanding contribution to the Australian wine industry each two years.
Glen McWilliam
Glen McWilliam shifted the winery's focus from specialty wines to premium table wines during the 1950's. He was responsible for the introduction and trial of important varietals previously unknown in the district.
He also led the way in developing the winery technology necessary to produce table wines in a hot summer climate.
Doug McWilliam
Doug began his career with the family winery in 1972. He has achieved much during his tenure, especially with regards to science of winemaking. In the past, Doug took care of vineyard planning and planting, and pioneered the development of rootstock suited to Australia's warm, dry climate.
During his illustrious career, Doug has been a member of many leading industry associations, including The Australian Wine Research Institute and the Co-operative Research Centre for Viticulture.
Scott McWilliam
Scott McWilliam began working at the winery in 1989, at the ripe old age of 14. He's come a long way since then, quickly establishing himself as one of the Riverina's brightest and most promising young winemakers.
Scott has spent time in Bordeaux, France, and collaborated with the prestigious Australian Wine Research Institute, experiences he considers invaluable to his development as a winemaker.
