About us

Normans Wine Company is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected privately owned wine companies with founder Jesse Norman establishing the company first in 1853.

Jesse Norman left his home in Cambridgeshire, England to seek a new life in the colony of South Australia. So at the age of 25 he set sail on the ship “Epaminondas” full of hope and enthusiasm, arriving at Port Adelaide in 1851 where he purchased 7 acres of land 3 miles west of Adelaide near the township of New Thebarton, known as the “Reedbeds”. Back in Cambridgeshire Jesse had been a brewer, but in the new colony he realised the potential of the rich soil, and planted fruit trees and vegetables, but mainly vines. So in 1853 a small family business was established.In 1857 Jesse married Miss Lucy Peacock from Bristol, who had arrived the same year. They had five sons and one daughter – Charles, Frederick, Roy, George, Arthur and Clara. After many years of hardship in the early days, Jesse Norman by hard work and perseverance purchased a further property of 43 acres, and due to the success of his earlier venture he again planted vines. In 1921 more land was purchased and the Normans established a winery at Holbrooks Road, Underdale.

Fifth generation Trevor Norman became the winemaker in 1974. He had tremendous success in wine shows around Australia, particularly for his Gewürztraminer. Trevor’s enthusiastic embrace of the variety was a continuation of Normans’ pioneering tradition, and inspired other winemakers around Australia to plant this delicate white variety. The year 1985 saw Normans create its flagship Chais Clarendon Shiraz, made from very old, low-yielding vines in the Barossa and McLaren Vale regions. This wine still remains one of the most prized wines in Australia; winning the highly acclaimed 2002 WineState “Best Shiraz of the year” and “Best wine of the year” for the 1998 vintage.

Today Normans Wines is based out of South Australia’s iconic Barossa Valley, and continue to make wine from very old and low-yielding vines in the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale for their premium brands, whilst also sourcing other fruit from growers in Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills and Langhorne Creek.

Over 160 years on since Jesse Norman first established his family business, we are proud to continue on its tradition today by honouring the family’s commitment of being an industry pioneer and maker of some of the world’s best premium wines.