The property of Clifton Estate obtained its name from Little Clifton in Cumbria, England and was first settled on the 2nd of March 1854. In about 1854 a vineyard of shiraz grapes was planted near the Clifton homestead and thus one of the oldest shiraz vineyards in Australia was established.
Whilst this vineyard is still producing grapes today, the family tradition of growing grapes has expanded from these humble beginnings to the extensive planting of vineyards that are in evidence today. Vineyards have now been planted throughout the Barossa and represent several of the sub regions within it.
My family has been firmly entrenched in the Barossa region over many generations, not only have they been established grape growers since the 1800’s but they were also pioneers in the mining industry, most famously involved in the Barossa Goldfields from the 1870’s onwards.