Peter Lehmann Wines

Peter Lehmann's story begins with a refusal. In 1977, Saltram Wines, then owned by Dalgety plc, instructed its winemaker/manager Peter Lehmann to buy fewer grapes from its network of Barossa growers. Lehmann had given the growers his word and refused to comply. After months of negotiation, he was permitted to start an independent side operation, Masterson Barossa Vineyards, backed by tyre retailer MS McLeod. The name was inspired by the gambler Sky Masterson from Guys and Dolls, reflecting the sheer risk of the venture. When Saltram was sold to Seagram in 1979 and Lehmann was told he could no longer make wine on the side, he quit and committed fully to the new company. In 1982 it was renamed Peter Lehmann Wines. The first vintage from 1980 was labelled 'The Futures', a direct reference to his promise to pay growers from future wine sales. It is widely credited that without this arrangement, the Barossa would have lost a large portion of its historic old vines.

• Founded 1979 as Masterson Barossa Vineyards following Saltram's instruction to cut grower purchases; renamed Peter Lehmann Wines in 1982
• Named after Sky Masterson from Guys and Dolls, reflecting the financial gamble of the founding
• 'The Futures' (1980 vintage) was the winery's first release, named to honour the deferred payment promise made to growers
• Peter Lehmann was a fifth-generation Barossa local, born in Angaston in 1930; began his winemaking career at Yalumba in 1947

Peter Lehmann is widely described as the man who saved the Barossa Valley. By committing to buy the 1979 harvest when larger companies walked away, he preserved the livelihoods of approximately 140 family growers and, critically, the ancient vine material they tended. Many Barossa vineyards now regarded as irreplaceable assets, with vines dating to the 1880s and 1890s, survived because Lehmann absorbed the risk. The winery demonstrated that a producer built on grower partnerships rather than estate ownership could achieve genuine international prestige, with the Stonewell Shiraz becoming a benchmark for the Barossa style. The winery navigated two significant ownership changes, from the Hess Group in 2003 to Casella Family Brands in 2014, while preserving its founding ethos. Peter Lehmann was awarded IWC Personality of the Year in 2009 for his role in shaping the Barossa.

• Credited with preserving Barossa's historic old vine material by purchasing grapes when multinationals refused
• Established the grower-partnership model as a viable, quality-focused alternative to estate-dominated production
• Stonewell Shiraz, first made in 1987, achieved 'Outstanding' status in Langton's Classification of Australian Wine
• Peter Lehmann awarded IWC Personality of the Year 2009; held an AM (Member of the Order of Australia)

Peter Lehmann Wines works with approximately 140 family growers spread across the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, and Adelaide Hills. Estate vineyards account for only two percent of total production, making grower relationships fundamental rather than supplemental to the winery's identity. This breadth of sourcing provides access to contrasting terroirs: warm, deep-soiled Barossa Valley floor sites in subregions such as Stonewell, Marananga, Nuriootpa, Light Pass, and Ebenezer deliver the dense, opulent fruit character associated with classic Barossa Shiraz; elevated Eden Valley vineyards contribute the cooler-climate precision that defines the winery's acclaimed Riesling; and Adelaide Hills parcels add aromatic freshness to the Hill and Valley range. Old vine material is central to the premium tier, with Stonewell fruit sourced from vineyards dating back as far as 1885, yielding under six tonnes per hectare.

• Sources from approximately 140 family growers across Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, and Adelaide Hills; estate vineyards = 2% of production
• Stonewell Shiraz draws on vineyards in the Marananga district dating to 1885, yielding under 6 tonnes per hectare
• Eden Valley sites provide high-altitude, cool-climate parcels for the Wigan and Hill and Valley Riesling expressions
• Subregions including Stonewell Road, Nuriootpa, Light Pass, Ebenezer, and Moppa contribute distinct character to blended wines

The portfolio is structured across several tiers. The Portrait range offers accessible, fruit-forward Shiraz, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other varietals at the entry level. The Barossan Shiraz draws fruit from multiple Barossa subregions and matures for 15 months in American oak hogsheads, 25 percent new, delivering a textbook Barossa mid-palate. The Hill and Valley range showcases the diversity of cooler-climate sites in Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills with Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, and other varietals. The Masters Collection honours significant people and moments in Peter Lehmann's life. Eight Songs Shiraz, first made in 1996 and named after the Peter Maxwell Davies composition 'Eight Songs for a Mad King', is sourced from old, low-yielding Barossa vineyards and matured 18 months in French oak. The Wigan Eden Valley Riesling and Mentor Cabernet Sauvignon round out the range. The flagship Stonewell Shiraz, a limited release made only when grapes reach required standards, was first produced in 1987 and has been rated 97 points in multiple vintages.

• Portrait range: entry-level, multi-varietal, fruit-forward; priced around $20 AUD per bottle
• Stonewell Shiraz: flagship limited release first made 1987; 18 months French oak; 97 points for 2016 and 2017 vintages
• Eight Songs Shiraz: Masters Collection; first made 1996 from 100-plus-year-old Barossa vineyards; 18 months in 40% new French oak
• Hill and Valley range: Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills diversity; Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz

Winemaking at Peter Lehmann centres on respecting the fruit delivered by the grower network rather than imposing a heavy winemaking stamp. Red wines are fermented and macerated on skins for up to two weeks, with some partial barrel fermentation used for flagship wines. Individual batches are assessed at an annual classification tasting before final blending decisions are made. The Stonewell and Eight Songs Shiraz are matured in French oak hogsheads, with the Stonewell receiving approximately 18 months and Eight Songs receiving 18 months in 40 percent new French oak. The Barossan is aged in American oak hogsheads for 15 months. The winery is certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, reflecting commitments to environmental stewardship across both viticulture and production. Chief Winemaker Nigel Westblade, appointed in 2017, works alongside a team that includes long-serving consultant Peter Scholz and winemaker Tim Dolan, a third-generation Barossa winemaker.

• Fermentation on skins for up to 2 weeks with optional partial barrel fermentation for premium reds
• Annual classification tasting determines final blend selections for Masters Collection wines
• French oak hogsheads: Stonewell approximately 18 months; Eight Songs 18 months in 40% new French oak
• Certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Chief Winemaker Nigel Westblade leads the team since 2017

Peter Lehmann Wines has undergone significant corporate transitions while maintaining its founding identity. In 1992, original financial backer MS McLeod divested, prompting a public float that was oversubscribed and included growers and staff as core shareholders. In 2003, a bidding war erupted between UK-based Allied Domecq and Swiss-based Hess Group; Hess prevailed, purchasing the company for approximately USD $103 million. In November 2014, Hess sold its 85.7 percent stake to Casella Family Brands, owner of Yellow Tail, for USD $49.5 million, with Peter Lehmann's widow Margaret also agreeing to sell her shares. Peter Leon Lehmann AM died on 28 June 2013, aged 82. His son Doug Lehmann, who had taken on a leadership role at the winery, died in June 2014. Today the winery continues to distribute to more than 70 countries and was awarded Best Large Sized Winery at the 2024 Barossa Wine Show.

• 1992 public float oversubscribed with growers and staff as core shareholders after MS McLeod divestment
• Hess Group paid approximately USD $103 million in 2003; Casella Family Brands acquired for USD $49.5 million in November 2014
• Peter Leon Lehmann AM (18 August 1930 – 28 June 2013); son Doug Lehmann died June 2014
• Named Best Large Sized Winery at the 2024 Barossa Wine Show under Chief Winemaker Nigel Westblade