Showcasing South Australia

The planting of Yangarra Estate Vineyard commenced in 1946 when the property was called ‘Lalla Rookh’, meaning “love nest”. Bernard Smart – who still lives adjacent to the property with his wife – assisted his father in planting unirrigated bush vine Grenache at the vineyard block known today as High Sands.

In 2000, California wine pioneer Jess Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke (proprietors of Jackson Family Wines) began their search in Australia for a site that could produce world-class wines. Their endeavor culminated a year later when they discovered the estate and fell in awe of the gnarly, old bush vines that deliver the heart and soul of Yangarra.

A year later they purchased Yangarra Estate, in awe of the priceless old bush vines which they knew would give the reborn Estate its gastronomic heart and soul. The appointments of local men Peter Fraser, winemaker, and Michael Lane, viticulturist, completed the first stage of Jess Jackson’s visionary plan.