The Darling family has lived in the King Valley for 100 years. We have grown apples, tobacco, grapes, and raised sheep and cattle.
Darling Estate Wines and Koombahla Vineyard are owned and run by John Darling, the fourth generation of the family in the valley.
Our Koombahla vineyard sits in the hills above Whitfield in the upper King Valley at elevations between 250 and 350m above sea level. Nestled under the Victorian Alps we get snow on the surrounding hills each year. During the summer, the katabatic breezes come down from the mountains keep the nights cool and encourage the vines to produce fruit with intense flavours and colour.
The vineyard is named after the magnificent brittle gum that sits at the top of the property gazing down on the vineyard. This tree is listed as a tree of significance with the National Trust.
John’s grandfather, Frederick Darling, moved to Cheshunt in 1919 following his return from service in the First World War to grow apples on property bought by his parents. He soon bought another property on the river to grow tobacco, a vibrant time in the valley when many European migrants brought their culture and joie de vivre.
Growing up in this environment, John’s father, Guy, developed a respect and passion for the land and what could be produced as well as a love of wine. In 1970 Guy purchased “Koombahla” in Whitfield, and planted the first commercial vineyard in the Upper King Valley. At this time the grapes were all sold to Brown Brothers who made many award winning wines from Koombahla fruit.
In 1990, Guy and John started to produce small quantities of wine under the Darling Estate label. Following Guy’s death, John and his partner Christine along with Edina the Airedale returned to the valley continuing the story and establishing the next generation of winemaking at Darling Estate.
John’s daughter Sophie has become involved in all things wine related, and in 2018 John’s youngest daughter Grace, and children Maddison and Archie, moved to Koombahla and are working the vineyard with Grandpa! The fifth and sixth generations are here.