The Yalumba Family

The Yalumba story started with Samuel Smith venturing across the seas from England to a small town called Angaston in South Australia. He founded Yalumba in 1849, planting the first vine under moonlight with his son, Sidney. His bold, pioneering spirit has passed through the generations, influencing each of Yalumba’s proprietors throughout the years; Sidney Smith, Walter Smith, and Wyndham Hill-Smith, all the way through to our fifth generations proprietor today, Robert Hill-Smith..

During her 20-year career at Yalumba, Louisa Rose has become one of the world’s most respected winemakers. Lou is passionate about creating great Australian wine. She has forged an identity for Australian Viognier, winning multiple awards in the process, and challenges perceptions of Barossa Shiraz, all while leading her viticultural and vinicultural teams to ever greater heights.
Lou wears many hats at Yalumba; award winner, wine judge, board member, natural leader. She is an inspiring figure in Australia’s wine industry and a proud ambassador for Yalumba’s own brand of progressive winemaking. She is the custodian of both Yalumba traditions and innovation at the winery. It’s a big task but one she has been preparing for since her first vintage at Yalumba in 1992. Her gifts as a taster and winemaker have been on display ever since.

Kevin Glastonbury or ​‘KG’ to us, knows the Barossa like the back of his hand. With a winemaking career that started as soon as he finished school, KG had several years of hard work, experimentation and innovation behind him by the time he joined Yalumba in 1999. A hands-on, get dirty approach has been his key to success as a winemaker.
His knowledge of the Barossa helps him understand the environment and innovate as Senior Red Winemaker for Yalumba. KG also looks after the sourcing and purchasing of oak for the crafting of barrels — a proud tradition at our on-site cooperage.
KG’s blend of passion and expertise has been recognised with numerous accolades, such as becoming a Len Evan tutorial scholar, respected wine judge, and Winestate ​‘Winemaker of the Year’.

An avid lover of food, Sam has been an integral part of Yalumba’s exploration into new and emerging food friendly varieties such as Vermentino, Tempranillo, Verdejo and Garganega.
Having grown up in the Barossa, it was inevitable that Sam would become part of the wine industry as soon as school was out. With two vintages under his belt, Sam started at Yalumba in 2001, and has been a passionate contributor to the team ever since.
Out of work you’ll find Sam in the kitchen, pairing pork belly with his own Yalumba Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro.

After graduating with a degree in marine biology and chemistry, Heather moved to the Barossa where she naturally grew curious about winemaking. Heather started working in our laboratory in 1999, and has moved from strength to strength ever since. Heather studied at Charles Sturt University in 2000 and quickly moved into the Yalumba Trainee Winemaker programme later that year. It wasn’t long before she was working in our cellar in 2001, moving quickly into production.
Heather has a passion for nature and sustainability and it seemed inevitable that she would be drawn to the practice of organic winemaking. In 2011, Heather was delighted to take on the winemaking responsibility of the Yalumba Organics collection, developing them to what they are today.

Marc was born and raised in South Africa, and has gained boutique experience in wineries all over the world. After eight successful vintages and a chance meeting with an Australian, he decided it was time to emigrate afield to an opportunity in the Barossa with Yalumba Wines. Vintage 2013 turned into a full time position, bringing his passion for purity and elegance in Barossa reds to our winemaking team.
Embracing local culture, sport and new friends he now lives in Tanunda with his wife Carolyn and two well-travelled cats, Yasmin and Skye. He loves watching the ​“Baggy Greens” and ​“Wallabies” on the cricket and rugby fields except for when they play the South African national sides. Otherwise, you’ll find him winding down with friends over a meal and glass of wine on the back patio.