Description
About Auld Family Wines
As a kid growing up in the Barossa Valley, wine is part of your DNA even before you’re old enough to realise it yourself. Whether it was the dried grape seeds breaking their falls from the schoolyard monkey bars – whilst kids elsewhere land on bark chips – or the ridiculously early mornings pruning vineyards as teenagers, wine quickly became a way of life for Jock and Sam Auld.
Sporting awards came in the form of local wine, often before they were even remotely close to being old enough to enjoy it, and their dad’s 40th birthday port barrel quickly became fair game. The port may have been more out of necessity than enjoyment, at least to begin with, and certainly didn’t make the early starts any easier, but it all contributed to an upbringing that fostered a love for wine that is still growing in Jock and Sam today. It’s no surprise, really – six generations earlier their pioneering great-grandfather was planting some of South Australia’s very first vines.
Now, over 150 years later, they are producing wine that captures the rich environment of their home state while adding another chapter to the family’s storied history; hoping to one day inspire yet another generation of Aulds to carry on the legacy.
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Barossa Valley’s historic Bethany region, Auld Family Wines crafts exceptional wines that capture the essence of Jock and Sam’s home state. Each bottle tells a story, honouring the land’s rich heritage and adding a new chapter to the family’s storied legacy.
Auld Family Wines is a distinguished, family-owned winery rooted in the rich viticultural heritage of South Australia’s Barossa Valley. The Auld family’s winemaking journey began in 1842, when Patrick Auld migrated to Adelaide and soon after planted some of the colony’s first vines at the now-iconic Auldana Vineyard in Magill. By the 1860s, Auldana had become one of the largest vineyards in South Australia, earning a reputation for producing high-quality “new world” wines and establishing a presence in the London market as one of Australia’s earliest wine exporters.
The Auld legacy continued through six generations, with each era contributing to the family’s enduring reputation. William Patrick Auld, Patrick’s son, not only managed the family business but also expanded it, founding W.P. Auld and Sons in 1910 and further cementing the Auld name in the region’s wine industry. The family’s influence extended beyond South Australia, with members like Patrick Auld making significant contributions to winemaking in New South Wales, and John Auld holding key roles at renowned wineries such as Yalumba and Saltram.
Today, Auld Family Wines is helmed by brothers Jock and Sam Auld, who are dedicated to crafting wines that reflect both the Barossa’s unique terroir and their family’s storied past. Their portfolio features varietals such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling, with labels like William Patrick, Strawbridge, and Wilberforce—named after a legendary horse from the family’s history. The winery is situated in the historic Bethany subregion, where Jock and Sam continue the tradition of producing expressive, regional wines that celebrate their heritage while looking to the future.
Auld Family Wines stands as a testament to resilience, innovation, and a deep connection to the land, offering every bottle as an invitation to share in the family’s remarkable story.