Located on the famous terra rossa soil of the Coonawarra region, Bowen Estate has an outstanding reputation for producing a quintessential range of classic premium wines. Established in the 1970s by husband-and-wife team Doug and Joy Bowen, Bowen Estate embodies the traditional winemaking and viticultural skills of Doug and his winemaker daughter Emma Bowen, which has become the benchmark for classic Coonawarra wines.

Starting with bare paddocks that had been part of a dairy farm until 1972, Doug and Joy established a vineyard area of 12-hectares. Since then, the property has grown tremendously, with the vineyard area now totalling 34-hectares. The cellar door rests in the unique, original dairy building with views of the majestic winery and Coonawarra vineyards.

Planted with cabernet sauvignon and shiraz varieties, as well as a smaller planting of chardonnay, the first vintage from Bowen Estate’s winery was produced in 1972 and in 2014 the family celebrated the winery’s fortieth vintage.

Throughout this impressive epoch of winemaking, Bowen Estate’s wines are iconic to the Coonawarra region, representing the integrity and quality of Coonawarra to a greater audience.

Bowen Estate is a truly family-owned and -operated winery. Doug, Bowen Estate’s viticulturist, is assisted by wife Joy, who conducts sales and marketing, and the couple’s daughter Emma, who become the company’s winemaker in 2002.

Doug and Joy also used the original name of the dairy, Donnybrook Farm, to market their range of handmade condiments and showcase regional produce at its finest. Son and chef, Simon Bowen and his wife Erika, have now taken on the role in the company and produce a range of seasonal jams, chutneys, jellies and sauces from their nearby restaurant Pipers of Penola. The products are also available for sale through the Bowen Estate cellar door.