Granted a moment of custodianship, the primary interest of all who work and live at Rippon is to do justice to this remarkable piece of land.

In 1975, Rolfe Mills, the third generation of his family on the farm, started to plant a series of experimental rows of Vitis vinifera.

In 1982 Rolfe and his wife Lois planted the first block of vines with the express interest of growing high quality wine and released their first commercial vintage in 1989. The land continues to be farmed by the Mills family, together with dedicated long-term staff.

As winegrowers, the team’s principal commitment is to the soil. Nurturing a healthy, responsive medium underfoot binds the vines and the people to their land.

Biodynamic farming and no irrigation help the vine drive energy into its seed and issue raw material that is capable of fostering wines that are true to their place.

For over 30 years, through careful observation and selection the varieties and the individual vines that were proven to be most suited to the site were planted, parcel by parcel, on the farm’s most favorable slopes. The greater majority of Rippon’s vines today remain on their own roots.