Jacob's Creek
A Barossa Valley wine brand based at Rowland Flat, named for the creek where Johann Gramp planted his first vineyard in 1847.
Jacob's Creek is a South Australian wine brand from the Barossa Valley, with its cellar door at Rowland Flat. It takes its name from the small creek that winds through the heart of the valley, along whose banks Johann Gramp planted his first vineyard in 1847. The Jacob's Creek brand officially launched in 1976, when the business was known as G Gramp & Sons. Pernod Ricard acquired Jacob's Creek in 1989, and the brand is now part of Vinarchy, the wine company established in 2025 following the merger of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers.
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Jacob's Creek takes its name from the small creek that winds through the heart of the Barossa Valley. In 1847, along the banks of Jacob's Creek, Johann Gramp planted his first vineyard. The Heritage Johann Shiraz Cabernet is named in honour of him as the founding figure of Gramp & Sons, whose winemaking history began in 1847. The Jacob's Creek brand officially launched in 1976, when the business was known as G Gramp & Sons. Pernod Ricard acquired Jacob's Creek in 1989 and owned Orlando Wines from that year; the Orlando Wines business later became Pernod Ricard Winemakers. Vinarchy was established in 2025 following the merger of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers, and its range of global brands is led by Hardys, Campo Viejo and Jacob's Creek. Vinarchy is headquartered in Australia, and Jacob's Creek wines offered for sale on the brand's site are sold by Vinarchy Australia Limited.
- 1847: Johann Gramp plants his first vineyard along the banks of Jacob's Creek
- 1976: the Jacob's Creek brand officially launches; the business is then known as G Gramp & Sons
- 1989: Pernod Ricard acquires Jacob's Creek
- 2025: Vinarchy is established following the merger of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers
- Johann Gramp planted his first vineyard along the banks of Jacob's Creek in the Barossa Valley in 1847
- The Jacob's Creek brand officially launched in 1976, when the business was known as G Gramp & Sons
- Pernod Ricard acquired Jacob's Creek in 1989 and owned Orlando Wines from the same year
- Part of Vinarchy, established in 2025 following the merger of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers
- Dan Swincer joined the winemaking team in the Barossa in 2006 and became Chief Winemaker in 2018
- Grapes are sourced from over 120 independent growers, most of them still family-run vineyards
- Cellar door at 2129 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat
People and Roles
Dan Swincer is Chief Winemaker of Jacob's Creek. He joined the winemaking team in the Barossa in 2006, was appointed Group Red Winemaker in 2015 and became Chief Winemaker in 2018; he was appointed Chief Winemaker Australia in 2025, and Vinarchy lists him as Chief Winemaker for Jacob's Creek and Hardys. Before him, Bernard Hickin joined the business in 1976, became company chief winemaker of Australian brands at Jacob's Creek in 2006 and Jacob's Creek global chief winemaker in 2010. In August 2015 the company announced Ben Bryant, who had joined Orlando Wines in 2000, as Hickin's successor as chief winemaker, with Hickin set to retire in June 2016. Together with the growers, the viticulture team manages irrigation, canopy management and bunch weight during the growing season, and pruning decisions in winter.
- Dan Swincer: Chief Winemaker since 2018 and Chief Winemaker Australia since 2025
- Bernard Hickin: joined in 1976; Jacob's Creek global chief winemaker from 2010
- Ben Bryant: announced in August 2015 as Hickin's successor as chief winemaker
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Jacob's Creek sources its grapes from over 120 independent growers, most of them still family-run vineyards, and calls them 'wine growers' rather than 'grape growers'. Vinarchy runs major winery operations at Berri Estates and Rowland Flat in South Australia. The Jacob's Creek cellar door is at 2129 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat, where the site includes a demonstration vineyard featuring 14 grape varieties and a walking and cycling route along the banks of Jacob's Creek. The partner restaurant, Harvest Kitchen, is located at the Jacob's Creek Visitor Centre, and Jacob's Estate Cottage, an original 19th century Barossa settler's cottage, is within walking distance of the cellar door. Jacob's Creek is a Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Certified Member.
- Over 120 independent growers, most still family-run vineyards
- Cellar door: 2129 Barossa Valley Way, Rowland Flat
- Demonstration vineyard featuring 14 grape varieties
- Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Certified Member
Wines and Ranges
The lineup spans the Classic, Double Barrel, Twin Pickings, Reserve, Sparkling Wines, Le Petit, Heritage, Cool Harvest and Our Limited Release ranges. The Classic range covers Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Shiraz Cabernet. Double Barrel wines are first matured in traditional wine barrels and then finished in aged whisk(e)y barrels; the range lists Shiraz, Chardonnay, Shiraz Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz Cabernet Rum. Reserve wines are made by selecting premium quality fruit for varietal expression, and Le Petit includes a Rosé and a Pinot Gris. The Heritage Johann Shiraz Cabernet, with 2012 the vintage listed, is matured in 100% new oak, predominantly French. Our Limited Release wines are small batch and exclusive to the cellar door. Centenary Hill Shiraz had its first vintage in 1994 under Orlando Wines, and by 1998 the label had changed to Jacob's Creek.
- Classic: drink-now varietals and blends, including Shiraz Cabernet
- Double Barrel: matured in traditional wine barrels, then finished in aged whisk(e)y barrels
- Heritage: Johann Shiraz Cabernet, named in honour of Johann Gramp
- Our Limited Release: small batch wines exclusive to the cellar door
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Jacob's Creek presents its Classic wines as 'created to drink now' for 'every day enjoyment,' and the Classic Shiraz Cabernet as a blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon 'made in a soft, approachable style.' Of its approach overall, the winery writes: 'Combining quality fruit and winemaking expertise, we create wines made to be enjoyed, shared and remembered.' Its Wine Australia profile gives Johann Gramp's vision as 'to create great tasting wines that reflect the true character of the grapes and the land.' The winery's note on the 2012 Heritage Johann Shiraz Cabernet cites fresh fruitcake and licorice balanced by slight leafy notes from the Cabernet, with oak adding spice and toast.
Sources and last verified
Primary sources (producer's own site): https://jacobscreek.com/, https://jacobscreek.com/pages/about-us, https://jacobscreek.com/pages/our-wines, https://jacobscreek.com/pages/tasting-experiences, https://jacobscreek.com/products/heritage-johann-shiraz-cabernet, https://jacobscreek.com/products/double-barrel-shiraz, https://jacobscreek.com/products/reserve-shiraz, https://jacobscreek.com/products/classic-shiraz-cabernet. Owner group's site (Vinarchy): https://vinarchy.com/pages/about-us, https://vinarchy.com/pages/our-brands, https://vinarchy.com/pages/winemakers, https://vinarchy.com/pages/where-we-operate, https://vinarchy.com/blogs/news-updates/jacob-s-creek-launches-global-welcome-to-the-creek-platform-for-a-new-generation-of-wine-moments. Official bodies: Wine Australia (https://www.australianwine.com/trade/expo/wineries/jacob-s-creek/) and Barossa Australia (https://www.barossa.com/visit/food-drink/jacobs-creek/). Secondary sources: The Drinks Business (6 August 2015 and 30 August 2017) and Decanter (Barossa Shiraz panel tasting, last updated 12 December 2023). Last verified 2026-10-14. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs.
- Jacob's Creek Classic Shiraz CabernetA blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Classic range, made to drink now.
- Jacob's Creek Reserve ShirazA full bodied Shiraz with blackberry and clove aromas, spicy black fruit flavours and subtle oak.
- Jacob's Creek Double Barrel ShirazShiraz first matured in traditional wine barrels, then finished in aged Scotch whisky barrels.
- Jacob's Creek Heritage Johann Shiraz CabernetNamed in honour of Johann Gramp and matured in 100% new oak, predominantly French; 2012 is the vintage listed.
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- Jacob's Creek is a Barossa Valley brand with its cellar door at Rowland Flat, South Australia; Johann Gramp planted his first vineyard along the creek in 1847.
- The Jacob's Creek brand officially launched in 1976, when the business was known as G Gramp & Sons.
- Pernod Ricard acquired Jacob's Creek in 1989; the brand is now part of Vinarchy, established in 2025 following the merger of Accolade Wines and Pernod Ricard Winemakers.
- Double Barrel wines are first matured in traditional wine barrels, then finished in aged whisk(e)y barrels.
- Grapes come from over 120 independent growers; Dan Swincer has been Chief Winemaker since 2018.
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