Tilbrook Estate

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Story Built from the Ground Up — Twice

James and Annabelle Tilbrook founded Tilbrook Estate in 1999 after searching Australia's cool climate wine regions and settling on Lenswood, one of the coldest grape-growing pockets in the Adelaide Hills. Their guiding philosophy — "Hand made by our hands" — meant they grew the grapes, made the wine, and bottled it themselves from the very beginning.

In December 2019, the Cudlee Creek bushfire swept through the property in an afternoon, destroying 21 years of work: the winery, wine stock, 90% of the vineyard, all fencing, and the sheds. The rebuild was, in their own words, "beyond overwhelming at times." By Easter 2021, they had completed a new environmentally friendly cellar door — solar-powered, on track for zero net carbon — and replanted the vines. That resilience and commitment to quality is part of what earned Tilbrook Estate recognition from Gambero Rosso, one of the world's most respected wine guides.

The Winemaker

James Tilbrook comes from an old Suffolk farming family in England. He studied agriculture in Shropshire, worked a vintage in the Barossa Valley and then in Oregon, before marrying Annabelle in 1998 and emigrating to Australia to pursue winemaking on his own terms. A stint at Pipers Brook Vineyard in Tasmania and post-vintage work at Mountadam in South Australia preceded the decision to plant his own vineyard in Lenswood. He is known for his passion for winemaking, environmental sustainability, and renewable energy — and for being the kind of host who might pour you something from his personal cellar, take you on a vineyard tour, or tell you a story you weren't expecting.

The Vineyard

The estate vineyard is close-planted at double the density typical for the Adelaide Hills. Rows run across the slope rather than up and down it, with some blocks terraced — a design that encourages water absorption and delivers uniform ripeness along each row. Kangaroos appear at dusk in the back paddock, parrots and lorikeets pass through the Chardonnay block known as "The Hill," and wedge-tailed eagles occasionally drift overhead. The philosophy is straightforward: grow the best possible grapes with the least possible impact on the environment.

Wines produced include Estate Shiraz, Reserve Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, a Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, and a méthode traditionnelle Pinot Chardonnay, among others.

Spanish Tapas at the Cellar Door

From October 2025, Spanish chef Juan Gallego joined the Tilbrook Estate kitchen, bringing an authentic menu under the name Casa Pica Pica. Tapas include Patatas Bravas, Gambas al Ajillo, Albondigas, Tortilla Española, and a full range of croquetas — cod, chorizo, jamón, mushroom, chicken, and jamón with blue cheese. Paella is available in a combination version or chicken and chorizo. Desserts run to Churros with chocolate ganache and Burnt Basque Cheesecake with berry coulis. The kitchen has also retained the sourdough Pinsa Pala Romana pizzas that built a loyal following in earlier years.

Seasonal long-lunch events — like the winter "Fuego & Fuego" Spanish feast — bring the outdoor setting and the wine cellar together in a way that feels entirely of this place.