Free Wine Tasting with Darling Estate

We are very privileged to have Sophie Darling joining us on Friday 13 November from 4pm to 6pm for a special tasting with Darling Estate.

A family winery with more than a century of history in the King Valley, Darling Estate specialises in wines made to age. The Darling family were the first to grow grapes commercially in the Upper King Valley, and today the fifth and sixth generations are back in the valley, continuing the family story in the vineyard and winery.

Their home vineyard, Koombahla, sits high in the hills above Whitfield, nestled beneath the Victorian Alps. At 250 to 350 metres above sea level, the vineyard benefits from cool mountain breezes and volcanic soils, producing fruit with remarkable flavour, colour and structure.

Standing above the vineyard is the magnificent brittle gum that has become the symbol of Darling Estate. At 42 metres tall, the tree is approximately twice the average height for its species and is listed as a tree of significance with the National Trust.

The family’s winemaking story began with Guy Darling, who planted the first vines at Koombahla in 1970 after developing a love of wine during his time in France. For many years the grapes were sold to Brown Brothers, before Guy and his son John began producing small quantities under the Darling Estate label in 1990.

Today, John is joined by his daughters Grace and Sophie, who are helping shape the next chapter of the family winery while staying true to what has always mattered at Koombahla: the land, the seasons and wines that reward time in the bottle.

Come along for a very special afternoon with Sophie Darling and discover the story behind one of the King Valley’s great family vineyards, with a chance to taste new releases from Darling Estate.