Our Heritage
From the beginning with founder John Campbell leaving the goldfields and heeding the wise words of Rutherglen’s first winegrower who said “Dig gentlemen , dig, but not deeper than the first 6 inches because there is more gold in the first six inches than there is lower down”; to his son David extending the cellars. Then Allen and his wife Isabel in the depression years, diversifying the property and introducing sheep, a move that proved invaluable during the wool boom.
Their sons Colin and Malcolm adding new technology and directions, extending the family vineyards and embracing new technologies.
The excitement of the fifth generation respectful of the past and adding their skills and expertise and dreams until this winery and its wines will in some way be stamped with the skill and personal ideals of every Campbell of Bobbie Burns.
One generation to start the dream, one generation to grow it, one generation to save it, one to expand it, and this generation to build for the future.
Campbells Milestones
1857
John Campbell sails for Australia from St Andrews, Scotland on the “Merchant Prince” – later to become the name for the family’s most prestigious Muscat.
1860
John arrives at Rutherglen to dig for gold – eventually finding himself on the rich Bobbie Burns lead to the west of the township.
1868
John selects 79 acres of land adjoining the Bobbie Burns lead, and plants a small area of vines.
1870
Campbells Wines is established – with John Campbells first vintage.
1885
The Bobbie Burns Homestead is built to replace John’s first timber slab and shingle roof home, erected in 1869. The Homestead still stands beside the winery.
The first cellar is built – a 45 feet by 25 feet timber beamed structure.
The Bobbie Burns Vineyard of Shiraz, Pedro Ximenez, Malbec, Riesling and Brown Muscat has grown to 38 acres – a small part of Rutherglen’s 3273 acres of vines.
Phylloxera is now evident in the Rutherglen vineyards.
1891
Campbells win their first prize for wine.
1893
Campbells win the top prize for 2 year old dry red at Rutherglen, and the Prize for “Best Riesling, sweet and full bodied, 2 years and over”.
1898
Phylloxera, a root sucking aphid, is confirmed in the Bobbie Burns Vineyard – beginning a slow decline in its production.
1909
John Campbell dies – leaving the vineyard of 87 acres in serious decline. His son David and David’s wife Isabella (the namesake of the family’s most famous Rutherglen Tokay), take over – beginning a 20 year task of replanting 45 acres of the Bobbie Burns Vineyard with American phylloxera resistant rootstocks and the rebuilding of the wine stocks. The cellar capacity is 11,750 gallons (52,000 litres).
1931
Tragedy strikes when David Campbell’s eyesight fails. His 15 year old son Allen is called in to assist, in the midst of the Depression. Sheep are introduced to generate income at a time of negligible wine sales.
1933
David Campbell dies at the age of 58 – leaving the heavily mortgaged Bobbie Burns vineyard in the hands of 18 year old Allen, who is determined to hold on in the face of an uncertain future, with 3,350 gallons(15,000 litres) of “valueless wine” in the winery.
1940
Allen marries Isabel Diffey (today’s Mrs Campbell Snr) and together they diversify the business in an effort to save the property. They sell small lots of wine to private customers for ‘rail delivery’.
1943
A steady programme of expansion begins with 39 acres nearby purchased including 10 acres of vines.
1960
200 acres of land is purchased from Graham Bros. The availability of irrigation will be a useful tool in the vineyards.
1961
Malcolm Campbell returns home after his final year at Scotch College to assist in the running of the vineyard and the farming property.
1967
The first Rutherglen Wine Festival is held.
1968
Colin Campbell returns to Rutherglen with a Diploma of Agriculture and a Diploma of Oenology at Roseworthy, South Australia.
The fourth generation carries on.
1969
Campbells pioneer cooling methods in the Rutherglen region – beginning a new age for white wines in the district. Campbells quickly establish a reputation as the leading white wine producer of Rutherglen.
A massive vineyard replanting programme begins.
1970
Bobbie Burns Shiraz is launched
1971
Trebbiano is voted Best District Dry White.
1972
Cellar Door Sales enter a new era with the construction of a new sales and tasting room integrated with the winery.
1973
A new Fermenting House is added.
1974
Allen Campbell dies – his expansion programme not yet complete. However the programme continues unabated
1980
Riesling wins trophies at the Rutherglen Wine Show, also the Royal Melbourne Show. Overall Campbells win 5 gold medals for white wines giving them the most white wine gold medals of any competitor at the Royal Melbourne Show.
1981
A mechanical grape harvester is purchased.
1982
The first export order – for shipment to San Francisco.
1983
Merchant Prince Muscat is launched.
1986
The year of the Muscat. An exceptional vintage for Muscat, with baume readings up to 29 degrees.
1988
The first Tastes of Rutherglen is held.
1990
Isabella Tokay is launched.
1992
The inaugural Vintage Dinner is held and Campbells hold their first Spring Picnic – a showcase for regional produce.
1993
Campbells win 3 of the 4 District Trophies at the Rutherglen Wine Show.
1994
The 1992 Bobbie Burns Shiraz wins a coveted Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge in London.
1995
Campbells celebrate 125 Years of continuous winemaking at Rutherglen.
A Dinner is held in the winery for industry leaders and associates with guest of honour, the Premier of Victoria.
Colin and Malcolm are honoured by the Victorian Wine Industry Association with a “Distinguished Service Award” for outstanding service to the development of the Victorian Wine Industry.
1997
Campbells Cellar Club commences.
1998
The Muscat of Rutherglen Network, chaired by Colin Campbell, sets the classification system for Rutherglen Muscat and Rutherglen Tokay.
1999
The 30th consecutive vintage of Bobbie Burns Shiraz.
1997 Bobbie Burns Shiraz and Merchant Prince Rare Rutherglen Muscat win Gold Medals at the International Wine Challenge in London.
2000
Julie Campbell, youngest daughter of Prue and Colin Campbell graduates from Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) with Honours.
2001
Malcolm Campbell is awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to Viticulture and to the Community.
2003
Robert Parker awards Merchant Prince Rare Rutherglen Muscat an incredible 99/100.
The inaugural Adelaide Cellar Club Dinner is held.
2004
The first crops of Viognier and Roussanne are harvested at Campbells.
Susie Campbell leads the Rutherglen Young Bloods – the new generation of the Rutherglen winemaking families.
2005
Online shopping arrives at Campbells.
2007
Super premium shiraz, The Brothers, is released to wide acclaim from the outstanding 2002 vintage.
The first release of Tempranillo which is an instant success and confirms it’s place in the Campbells portfolio.
Colin chairs the Fortified Sustainability Project charged with renaming Australian Tokay and Sherry and to effectively relaunch these rare wines.
2008
Rutherglen Durif turns 100!
2009
Campbells is included in the highly respected group of generational family owned wineries, Australia’s First Families of Wine, with the aim of promoting to the world, the heart and soul behind Australian wine.
The hugely popular Bobbie Burns Dinner held in May, fills the winery to capacity.
2010
We celebrate 140 years of continuous winemaking by the Campbell family on the same site here at Rutherglen.
Campbells Rare Rutherglen Muscat, Merchant Prince, is the first Australian wine to be awarded the perfect score – 100/100 by legendary wine columnist Harvey Steiman of New York based Wine Spectator magazine .
The first release of the ‘Sixties Block’ (2008) .
Campbells release their first sparkling wine to commemorate their 140th Birthday. Aptly named ‘1870’, it is a sparkling shiraz.
Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) launch their book, Heart and Soul.
Isabel Campbell, beloved mother of Malcolm, Colin and Jeanette, dies at the age of 91, heralding the end of a great era of change at Campbells.
2011
The release of the 2009 Bobbie Burns Shiraz marks the 40th consecutive release of this Rutherglen icon since its inception with the 1970 vintage.
‘The Vintage Room’ at Cellar Door is fittingly refurnished with an antique table, circa 1870, providing a quiet place to sit and enjoy a flight tasting or a private tasting.
2013
This is the year ‘The Barkly’ Durif celebrates 15 vintages, with a Roadshow tasting in both Melbourne and Sydney, concluding with a black tie dinner in the winery.
The Campbells brand gets a makeover, in particular our iconic ‘Bobbie Burns’ Shiraz really shows its personality!
Our Rutherglen Muscat receives a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge and our Rutherglen Topaque receives a trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards; two of the largest and most prestigious wines shows in the world.
Prue and Colin Campbell, along with all the members of Australia’s First Families of Wine travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong to launch Australia’s First Families of Wine in China.
2014
Colin is the first recipient of Victorian Legend of the Vine award.
2015
Harvey Steiman from Wine Spectator Magazine who awarded Campbells Merchant Prince Rare Rutherglen Muscat 100/100 in 2010, met with Colin in New York and confirmed that this wine is ‘still right there’!
2016
Colin is inducted as a Life Member of the Australian Wine Industry for his outstanding contribution to the Australian wine industry.
2017
Our first Fiano 2016 is released at the Tastes of Rutherglen festival.
Campbells is awarded with five gold medals and two trophies at the Rutherglen Wine Show, including; Best Commercial Muscat – Rutherglen District: Classic Rutherglen Muscat and Best Muscat in show: Rare Merchant Prince Muscat.
Our Rosé 2017 is released and wins many new fans.
2018
Colin Campbell is awarded with an Order of Australia Medal. Announced officially at Australia Day celebrations in Rutherglen, Colin has received his OAM award for his outstanding contribution to the winemaking industry.
2019
The 50th vintage of Bobbie Burns Shiraz is harvested as part of V19. In 2021 we will celebrate 50 consecutive years of Bobbie Burns Shiraz!
Fourth generation Campbells winemaker and director, Colin Campbell OAM, makes his last vintage and leaves the winery for the last time with his boots on. Despite the devastating loss of their Dad, Jane and Jules keep the Campbells legacy alive.
2020
Campbells celebrate their 150th year of continuous Campbell family winemaking on the same patch of ground where the winery was established in 1870 by founder Scotsman John Campbell. Sadly due to the Corona Virus pandemic, all celebrations have to be postponed. A wonderful addition for visitors to Cellar Door is a huge welcoming fireplace. The lawn areas are extended and the driveway reduced plus the sales offices are greatly improved.
2021
The fifth generation of Campbells are now the owners of Campbells Wines and a new era is established with sisters Jane and Julie, daughters of Colin and Prue, at the helm. Jane is the Managing Director and Julie is the winemaker, and custodian of the Campbells iconic style. The 50th consecutive vintage of Bobbie Burns Shiraz, the 2019 vintage, is released. A wonderful milestone and a tribute to the popularity of the style. The Muscat Mile is launched. A celebration of Rutherglen’s unique wine, Muscat of Rutherglen. Visitors are able to enjoy special experiences at each of the producers’ wineries. Campbells is awarded the “Star Cellar Door” award by Gourmet Traveller Wine. Merchant Prince Rare Rutherglen Muscat is awarded the trophy at the Rutherglen Fortified Wine Show.
Landscaping begins in earnest with all hands-on deck with hedges planted and many trees including English oaks, London Plane Trees, Manchurian Pears, Chanticleer Pears planted throughout the grounds.
2022
The new driveway is sealed through to the carpark with plenty of shade under the English oaks.
UK visit by Jane and Charlie to visit our Distributors ending in a visit to our NZ distributors.
Queen Elizabeth 11 dies 8th September. The end of the Elizabethan era.
2023
Lucy 111 has her maiden vintage at Campbells and is a big success.
Lucy 11 finds a new home in the Mildura.
A new Europress is purchased for smaller batch processing.
2 red fermenters are purchased for smaller batches and hand-picked wines.
A new Polaris arrives for the vineyard crew.
New directional signage and Campbells road signs are installed.
Campbells holds their first successful Winter Escape weekend on the long weekend in June.
The Autumn Wine and Food weekend is announced for the long weekend in March.
