Ashton Hills Vineyard winemaker Stephen George has long been regarded as an early pioneer of the now well-established viticultural site, the Adelaide Hills. Stephen established his 3ha dry-grown Ashton Hills Vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley in the early 1980s and began producing its first wines in 1987. The style reflects the region’s strong similarity to Burgundy and production levels have stayed true to the boutique nature of the winery’s beginnings.

Stephen George

‘Australia’s 10 bravest winemakers’ - Andrew Jefford, Decanter, May 2010

“Stephen discovered grapes and wine at the age of eleven and made a “Vin Suburbia” from backyard grapes three years later. At the age of 16 he blew all his money on the classic book General Viticulture and there was no turning back. A vintage at Glenloth and study at Roseworthy led him to identify the Adelaide Hills as a likely region for the production of finely-flavoured European-styled wines. In the early ‘80s he established Ashton Hills Vineyard on a Brussels sprout paddock. The site has proven to be particularly good for pinot noir and retains a focus on grape growing and winemaking rather than marketing.”
The Adelaide Review, July 2010

Ashton Hills Vineyard

One of the ‘Best of the Best’ and 5/5 red star winery – James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2007 – 2010

Ashton Hills Vineyard ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir

Best New World Pinot Noir, 19/20 points (2007 vintage)
“There’s nothing to touch the integrity and reward in Ashton Hills’ Pinots. Drink the ‘07 Reserve now to 2016.”
Matthew Jukes, Decanter Magazine, June 2009

19/20 points (2007 vintage)
“Stephen George is one of the most naturally gifted winemakers in Australia. His single-vineyard estate makes tear-jerkingly delicious Pinot, an exceptional sparkling rose and an assassin-fierce Riesling among other beauties. Why then are his wines not available in the UK? I have to ship them in myself because I cannot live without some Ashton Hills magic in my life.”
Matthew Jukes, Decanter Magazine, April 2010

Ashton Hills Vineyard ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir

Gold Medal and Top of Class (2007 vintage) – National Cool Climate Wine Show 2008

“Stephen George asserts himself as king of the Hills once again when it comes to pinot noir. Ripe dark berries and exotic spicy complexity – fragrant and dynamic. Silky tannins and bright acidity hold the line beautifully amid fleshy curvaceous fruit…”
Nick Stock, John Duval and Stephen Pannell, Adelaide Review, Hot 100

93/100 points (2007 vintage)
“This 2007 is a rage of scent. It’s spicy, cherried, sour and sweet, the flavour strong but the weight light. It was matured in second and third use French oak for 12 months, and there is no overt oak flavour…. It flourishes through a tangy finish and had me begging for more. Super drinking and super recognizable as Ashton Hills.”
Campbell Mattinson

Ashton Hills Vineyard ‘Piccadilly’ Pinot Noir

96/100 points and Top 100 (2008 vintage)
“Owner/winemaker Stephen George was one of the pioneers of pinot noir in the Adelaide Hills. It shows some colour development; as always, has an extremely expressive and complex bouquet with forest undergrowth and spicy red fruits; the palate is a precise replay of the bouquet, with great length and immaculate balance.”
James Halliday’s Top 100, The Weekend Australian, Nov 2009

Ashton Hills Vineyard Sparkling Shiraz

Icon Wine (NV) – Australian Wine Vintages Gold Book 2009

Ashton Hills Riesling

Trophy (2008 vintage) - Adelaide Hills Wine Show

94/100 points (2008 vintage) – James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010

94/100 points (2008 vintage)
“This is one of the Adelaide Hills’ finest expressions of Riesling.”
Tyson Stelzer, Wine100, August 2009

Ashton Hills Vineyard ‘Three’ Gewürztraminer/Pinot Gris/Riesling

“The first local to follow the Alsace blending lead was Stephen George of Ashton Hills in the Adelaide Hills, who released his first Three in 2003, a blend of pinot gris, gewürztraminer and riesling (in that order, by proportion). “I’m emulating Alsace, but without the sylvaner,” says George. (…) That 2003 has evolved beautifully in bottle, while the 2007 is equally smart. There’s a small amount of this available at the cellar door, but there is no 2008 as George wanted to experiment with straight gewürztraminer and late-picked – “tardy” – pinot gris.”
Tim White, The Age, Epicure, March 2009