For six generations, Hill-Smith Family Estates has been at the forefront of Australian winemaking, evolving from a single vineyard in 1849 to a global wine powerhouse with a portfolio of renowned brands, including Yalumba, Jansz Tasmania, and Pewsey Vale Vineyard. Rooted in a legacy of family ownership and sustainability, the estate has pioneered industry innovations while maintaining an unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility. At the helm of it all is Louisa Rose, Winemaker and Head of Sustainability, whose passion for sustainable practices has positioned Hill-Smith Family Estates as a leader in climate-conscious viticulture. 

In this interview, Rose shares her insights on sustainable winemaking, technological innovation, and the estate's vision for the future.

Hill-Smith Family Estates has thrived for over 175 years, evolving from a single vineyard to a globally recognized wine group. What do you think has been the key to maintaining this longevity and success?

We are committed to generational sustainability. Sustainability is not just a story we tell, it's inherent to who we are.  Commitment by and to the Hill-Smith Family; generational planning and thinking; as well as having the best people making sure that our wines and offerings are relevant, desirable and delicious is paramount to us.  This in many ways can also translate to ‘we can create our own future’, rather than trying to keep up with others.

Hill-Smith Family Estates has always been at the forefront of innovation—from pioneering Viognier in Australia to establishing the Yalumba Nursery. How do you ensure the business continues to push  boundaries while staying true to its heritage?

Continually pushing our boundaries in order to not just stay relvant but to also drive innovation is in the DNA of the business. The Hill-Smith Family has always challenged their people to be the best and stay at the cutting-edge of all things wine.  We understand that the wine business is always evolving, and it’s important that we do our best to stay ahead of the curve. Everyone is encouraged to experiment, to try new things and to always work on improving.  Of course not every experiment results in success in the first go or even at all, but that's alright as well because at the end of the day it still helps us learn. It's this culture that` keeps employees excited and engaged to the idea of innovation and improvement rather than be complacent.

Yalumba

With changing consumer preferences, particularly the shift towards premium and sustainable wines, how is Hill-Smith Family Estates adapting its portfolio to meet these demands?

Adapting our portfoilio to accomodate the ask for premium quality and sustainable wines specifically is making sure that the wines produced and their styles are relevant. When it comes to sustainability, in the recent decades we have had an active focus on  environmental management and biodiversity, particularly in our vineyards and lands that we look after. Decarbonisation is an effectual part of our strategy. We have recently achieved a gold membership with International Wineries for Climate Action and are on track to meet the targets set out by the UN Race to Zero plans. Other sustainability measures that encompass environment, social and governance, can be seen in our sustainability report

What role does technology play in modern winemaking, and how is Hill-Smith Family Estates integrating advancements to improve quality and efficiency?

Technology is critical to the future of winemaking, particularly as we work to decarbonise.  Now this doesn’t mean the grapes will be grown or the wines made through methods other than minimal intervention. It simply means that the infrastructure around these processes will change. In areas such as water management, vineyard machinery, refrigeration, glass manufacturing, transport, and CO2 capture, just to name a few, new technologies are going to be crucial to being efficient, sustainable and maintaining our social licence.

As Head of Sustainability, you’ve been a vocal advocate for responsible winemaking. What sustainability initiatives are you most proud of at Hill-Smith Family Estates?

Often it’s a mix ofabout small steps and continuous improvement, sometimes they are big game changing steps or decisions.  Specific initiatives include:

• Preserving, recognising and celebrating our amazing old vine resource in the Barossa.
• Having the same area of native vegetation within and around our vineyards as we do grapevines, something that has led to huge improvements in biodiversity ad vineyard health – and now some of the recent plantings we recognise also for sequestering carbon.
• Using wild yeasts, (from the healthy biodiverse vineyards), to make the wines – at the same time capturing more of the terroir in each wine, and in many cases making wines that have more purity and consistency from year to year.
• Joining and becoming a gold member of IWCA – with 38% reduction in carbon so far.
• Being among the first vineyards, wineries and wines to become certified with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
• Having our own vine propagation nursery – that provides healthy vines for new vineyards, and offers varieties, clones and rootstocks for future proofing. See https://www.yalumbanursery.com/

Wine tasting at Yalumba Nursery

The global wine industry faces economic fluctuations, from inflation to shifting trade policies. How is Hill-Smith Family Estates positioning itself to navigate these challenges?

Never easy, but over the generations this has been achieved by having long term plans and strategies, and staying with what’s important.  Patience to wait some things out, but the ability to be nimble and able to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.  Diversity is important, of resources, of wine offerings, of geography, of channels and markets.

Private label wines and direct-to-consumer sales are growing trends. Does Hill-Smith Family Estates  see these as opportunities, and if so, how is the company adapting its distribution strategy?

Private label wines have a place in the market; however, the authenticity and origin of strong family-owned brands continue to resonate with consumers who are looking to learn about wine and enjoy the experience. Direct-to-Consumer sales are an important and growing channel, playing a key role in our overall sales strategy. As consumers become more confident shopping online, actively seek out winery experiences, and embrace greater flexibility in how they purchase wine, the importance of this direct connection continues to grow.

With six generations shaping Hill-Smith Family Estate legacy, what do you see as the next frontier for the company? Are there any upcoming projects or regions of interest?

The most important things for Hill-Smith Family Estates, is making sure what we are doing today gives us the best chance for there being a long term, viable and sustainable wine industry.  There are lots of actions, small and larger that go into this – the main ones already discussed.  Our vineyard and winery developments in Tasmania (Jansz Tasmania and Dalrymple Vineyards) remain a focus for the future.

Given your extensive experience in the wine industry, what advice would you offer to the next generation of winemakers looking to make their mark?

Don’t think you have to do everything yourself; accept help and understand how great teams are.  Learn from others who are there with you or who have gone before you, and then believe in yourself.

If there was one message you’d like wine enthusiasts to take away about Hill-Smith Family Estates, what would it be?

Our wines are modern, timeless and delicious, made with a lot of knowledge, thought and love to reflect the place they come from.

Header image sourced from Hill Smith Estates.