Over twenty years we’ve transformed our family’s farm on the western perimeter of the Barossa Valley into a viticultural wonderland. Venturing ‘up the hill’ to the Barossa’s high country in 2023, we acquired the highly regarded ‘Summers Vineyard’ in Eden Valley which is planted to Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Sustainable Wine Growing Australia certified both vineyards and winery in early 2025.
If you were to distil our story into a few words, it would read….“We grow it. We make it. We own it.” A proud statement of independence that captures the DNA of who we are, what we do, and what we stand for.
Growing and selling fruit to Barossa winemakers whilst keeping the really good stuff for ourselves. Tipping our hat to heritage, tradition and the many great names of past and current generations that have propelled Barossa onto the world wine stage. Expressing a purposeful determination to progress the Barossa wine narrative and to challenge well entrenched views of wine character and flavour that comes from this part of the world.
Every wine we make is produced from fruit grown in our own vineyards and made by us. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Each label is purposed with connecting the enjoyment of good wine with a story of real people and a real place. Some have pigs on them, and some are named for elusive and enigmatic winemakers. Others immortalise our father’s exceptional sense of style in underwear, jackets and wallpaper. Others are simply born of the freedom of thought that comes from spending long hours sitting in tractors.
We hope our wines will raise eyebrows in polite company. “You say these wines are from the Barossa? In Australia?!”. Yes they are! As we are. In every way.
“I subscribe to the mantra of ‘less is more’ In the winery, aiming to preserve and promote the natural flavour, character and texture of the fruit John grows on the estate. Wines that show purity of fruit, elegance and fine structure. Simple is may be, but it’s an approach we believe best realises the amazing potential of the fruit we grow.” James Lienert
“Growing up in the Barossa surrounded by vineyards and wine, it didn’t take me long to join the dots between studying science, my favourite subject at school, and the potential for practical application by becoming a winemaker. My first hands on role mirrored that of so many Barossa born kids graduating high school – working vintage at a local winery (Penfolds) and earning more money than I’d ever seen in my life. I subsequently invested my new found wealth ‘wisely’ by travelling the world and doing all the good things a young Australian should be doing at that age – I recall beer being a consistent theme no matter where I found myself.
I returned to Australia, and to Penfolds for 6 more vintages. Further overseas vintages in New Zealand (Otago), USA (Sonoma) and Germany (Mosel) expanded my world wine view, and I completed my masters in Oenology in 2012. Equipped with a good mix of learned theory and hands on experience, I started my winemaking career at Two Hands which led to my current position as winemaker with the WD Wines Group.
Based in Barossa keeps me close to our vineyards and affords the opportunity each vintage to make small parcels of wine for Lienert Vineyards from what my brother John and I reckon to be some of the best blocks on the estate.
My approach to winemaking is based on a desire to preserve the character of our estate expressed through wines that show purity of fruit, elegance, delicacy, with finely structured tannins and flavours. Working in partnership with John in the vineyard, my aim in the winery is to retain all the more delicate flavours through varying winemaking techniques and subtle use of oak. ‘Less is more’ is a simple mantra, but to us it captures how we believe we’re best able to unlock the amazing potential of the fruit we grow.”
James Lienert
