Wine has always played a special part in the Rathbone family whether it at the family table or on special occasions. Although contemplating the idea of becoming wine producers it wasn’t until 1995 that they put their dream into reality with the purchase of a vegetable farm in the Yarra Valley that soon became the Laura Barnes Vineyard. With the family’s background in agriculture and manufacturing and their passion for the wine industry it wasn’t long before they expanded their interests and purchased Yering Station in 1996. This natural progression, coupled with a combination of family talents, allowed them to develop a business around quality wine. From here they were able to expand their vineyards, construct a state-of-the-art winery and create a tourist destination.

In 2002 the Rathbone family decided to expand the family business and began to look for wineries that would complement Yering Station in exceptional quality yet differ in style. Later that year they purchased Mount Langi Ghiran in the Grampians, invested in new winemaking facilities and hired a new Chief Winemaker. Mount Langi Ghiran is renowned for its exceptional and distinctive cool climate Shiraz, as well as producing excellent Cabernet, Riesling and Pinot Gris. In 2004, they purchased Parker Estate, Coonawarra, a winery with a reputation for excellent cabernet production. Having established themselves in the Yarra Valley, Western Victoria and Coonawarra, Margaret River was the next region to capture their attention. In 2005 they saw the potential in Xanadu Estate and transformed it into the award winning winery it is today.

Today the Rathbone family is committed to producing wines of quality and distinction and providing an environment that allows its passionate young teams to thrive.