Peter Thompson’s long, lucrative history in viticulture dates back to the early 1970s. Throughout his career, Thompson has been heavily involved in the establishment and maintenance of vineyards throughout Australia, ranging from Western Australia’s Margaret River to King Valley in Victoria’s north-east, and everywhere in between.

Thompson purchased his first vineyard in Coonawarra in 2008. After establishing Peter Thompson Wines’ first vineyard, referred to as Home Block, three additional vineyards – Grandma’s Block, Chapel and Julia Hill – followed. Named after the Thompson family home, the Home Block vineyard is known for its cabernet sauvignon and shiraz varieties. Directly across from this vineyard is Grandma’s Block where Thompson’s grandmother once lived. Now a dry grown vineyard, Grandma’s Block solely produces shiraz. The Chapel vineyard chiefly grows cabernet sauvignon, while Julia Hill – as local bushwalkers know it – produces cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot varietals. Peter Thompson Wines’ cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot varietals were first produced in 2010.

In a bid to produce high quality white wines, Thompson purchased a vineyard at Kongorong in Mount Gambier, where riesling, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot noir were first made in 2018. The Kongorong vineyard includes 30 hectares of vines, and weathers one of the coldest mainland climates; it also experiences temperate sea breezes during the summertime. Planting vines in a hard bark of flint rock, known as silex, ensures the vines survive this oscillating climate. The delicate white wines produced by this vineyard have been named in honour of the silex which facilitates their growth. Kongorong is fast becoming known for its standout pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling grapes.

Peter Thompson Wines’ cellar door is conveniently located on the main street of Penola, where visitors can sample and purchase Peter Thompson Wines’ esteemed range. Presently, Peter Thompson Wines produces 10,000 cases of wine annually, all derived from fruit across its Coonawarra and Kongorong vineyards. Peter Thompson has devoted his life to maintaining vineyards and cultivating quality wines across the Coonawarra region. Together with distinguished winemaker Peter Douglas, Peter Thompson Wines continues to produce premium wines each year.