After five generations of the Duval family supplying other top wineries such as Penfolds with grapes, John Duval became the first family member to transition from growing grapes to making wine. He joined Penfolds in 1974 right after graduating from College and from 1986 onwards even assumed the position of chief winemaker, shaping some of the most reknown Penfolds-Shiraz like the Grange and RWT. Having done this high class job for more than 15 years, John decided to start its own brand, John Duval Wines in 2003 in Tanunda in the heart of the Barossa Valley.

With access to vines that are more than 100 years old, the winery was able to offer three superbly structured and elegant Shiraz as early as 2005 (including the Eligo, which is hardly available outside of Australia, but has still become increasingly popular abroad).

At the beginning of 2016 – shortly before the harvest of the largest flagship Eligo vintage to date (98 points James Halliday 2020, Wine Companion August 2019), John’s son Tim returned after several years as a lawyer in Adelaide and now completes the family management of the winery.

We were very lucky to get to know Tim during the 2019 vintage and since then have not only been fans of Duval wines, but also of the team’s refreshingly personal style.

We are already looking forward to the Eligo 2017 and everything that may come next.

Cheers