The Millbrook estate winery is located at picturesque Chestnut Farm nestled among virgin jarrah forests, with stunning vistas of the rolling landscape. The origins of Chestnut Farm date back to the nineteenth century when the original owner, Joseph Batt, planted an orchard and the first grapevines in 1860, providing fruit and a few headaches to the local timber-millers in Jarrahdale.
Today, Chestnut Farm and Millbrook Winery, comprising 120 hectares (300 acres), are owned by Peter and Lee Fogarty. In addition to the vines which line the steep slopes, the property still incorporates an active orchard, as well as an olive grove, sparkling lakes, and marron and trout dams.
The name Millbrook was derived from the timber-milling history of Jarrahdale and the Gooralong Brook which is a feature of the town. Millbrook Winery, together with the iconic Lake's Folly vineyard in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales; and Deep Woods Estate in Margaret River, Western Australia, forms part of the Fogarty Wine Group. The establishment of the vineyard at Chestnut Farm was very much a family affair with Peter and Lee Fogarty and their three children planting the first vines in 1996.
Millbrook is now one of the largest vineyards established in the recently recognised wine-growing region known as the Perth Hills. Currently under vine are 8 hectares (20 acres) comprising Chardonnay, Viognier, Petit Verdot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Estate-grown fruit is supplemented with premium varieties sourced from select vineyards in the Perth Hills region and the south-west of Western Australia (Geographe, Great Southern and Margaret River regions).
Geologically, the Perth Hills area is quite distinct from other WA regions with soils of ancient gravel and clay over extensive granite. Like most of the south-west of WA, the climate is typically Mediterranean with cool to cold, wet winters and warm, dry summers.To protect Millbrook’s pristine environment, we utilise modern viticultural practices including integrated pest management, organic mulching and minimal irrigation. Vines are planted on undulating slopes to optimise drainage and control growth, with the emphasis being on fruit quality, rather than yield. All pruning and picking is undertaken by hand.
In December 2001, construction of the state-of-the-art winery was completed. It is now a stunning home for a modern winemaking facility, barrel halls, tasting room and restaurant. Incorporating both local stone and timbers, Millbrook showcases the natural beauty and products of the Perth Hills region. Millbrook was chosen as one of the Best Winery Restaurants in Western Australia at the Australian Gourmet Traveller 2006 Restaurant Guide. Millbrook was also selected as a finalist in the 2007 Gold Plate Awards in the Best Restaurant within a Winery category.
Millbrook Winery has been specially designed for small-batch, quality wine production. The split-level design is both compact and efficient, allowing the gravity transfer of juice and wine through the winery. The winery’s temperature-controlled barrel halls mature the wines, in the finest French and American oak barrels, under optimum conditions.
Millbrook Estate Shiraz Viognier received Top 100 Award at the Sydney International Wine Competition. Top 100 wines are also BLUE-GOLD Award winners and rank in the top 5% of the Competition's 2,000 entries from 12 countries. At the 2006 Boutique Wine Awards held in Sydney, the Millbrook Chardonnay was awarded a trophy for Best Chardonnay of the Show, and the Millbrook Limited Release Viognier a trophy in the Best other White category. The 2006 RNA Royal Queensland Wine Show resulted in the Millbrook 2005 Regional Viognier receiving a Gold Medal and Top of Class as the Best 2005 Viognier in Australia.
