As the sun sets on 2024, it’s time to raise a glass and reflect on a year that’s been nothing short of extraordinary. This year has been a blend of cherished moments, hard work, and the kind of stories that make us smile long after the glasses are empty. Let’s rewind the highlights of 2024—a year that’s been as much about family as it has been about the wine.

The Heartbeat of Brockenchack: Our 2024 Vintage

This year marked the second vintage in our state-of-the-art winery and bottling plant, and what a season it was! From bud burst to bottle, the vineyard once again proved why Eden Valley is home to some of the finest wines in the world. The 2024 vintage delivered in spades, showcasing vibrant whites and rich, structured reds—a testament to our vineyard’s unique terroir and the passion of our team.

Honouring Archie and Marilyn: New Wines Announced

2024 was a special year for new wines, with two announcements stealing the spotlight. First, we unveiled theArchie Scott Mataro, a tribute to the youngest member of our family, whose boundless energy and cheeky grin inspire us every day. The grapes for this wine were picked with care, and while it won’t be released until 2025, it promises to be as vibrant and full of character as its namesake.

And, after years of waiting, our matriarch Marilyn finally had a wine named in her honour. TheMarilyn J Reserve Chardonnayis a masterpiece worthy of her grace, strength, and unwavering support.

Gatherings That Feed the Soul

This year brought us together in ways that remind us why we do what we do:

• Brothers Barrel Room Dinner: A brand-new tradition kicked off in 2024 with our first-ever Brothers Barrel Room Dinner. A cozy, intimate evening filled with incredible wines, delicious food, and even better company.
• Annual Long Lunch: Our annual long lunch drew a crowd of 50, with laughter echoing across the bocce court as the competition heated up. There’s something magical about sharing food, wine, and good times under the Eden Valley sun.

Sharing Brockenchack Around the World

The Brockenchack name continued to travel far and wide in 2024. Our wines delighted wine lovers in the UK, NZ, USA, Asia, and beyond, proving that the love for Brockenchack knows no borders.

Darrenand Megan spent countless hours working with our NZ distributors and trade, with private wine clubs in both North and South Islands, and were the only international winery featured at the epic Winetopia Wellington tasting event - sharing the magic and bringing our wines to new fans across the globe.

Meanwhile,Macktook his talents to the UK, hosting wine events and spreading our slice of paradise overseas.

Family at the Heart of It All

At Brockenchack, family isn’t just a value—it’s our foundation. This year, we’ve seen exciting changes within the family:

• Charlijoined us full-time, moving from Queensland to the vineyard and throwing herself into the business with enthusiasm and heart.
• Jackever the rock of the operation, continued to lead our wine and cattle operations with a steady hand. This year also saw Jack marry his beautiful bride,Laura, and we couldn’t be happier for them.
• Macktransitioned into a business development and export role, helping share our beloved wines with the world which has been a perfect fit for his skills.
• Brontereached a milestone of her own, completing her university studies and making us all so proud.
• Darrenhas been in constant motion — he hosted so many events around Australia he lost count, undertook as many trips as there are continents, including several trips to the vineyard to man the bottling line, and clocked up hundreds of kilometres, all in the pursuit of selling wine - and still managed to coach Surf Rescue’s youngest recruits! At this point, we’re not even sure if we’ve seen him stand still for more than five minutes. Seriously, he's got the busiest schedule, which doesn’t leave room for slowing down. But he somehow manages it all without breaking a sweat! We’re convinced he must have a secret twin!

Looking Ahead – The Next Generation Steps Up

As we close the chapter on 2024, it’s clear that the next generation of the Brockenchack family is gearing up to eventually take the reins. The grandkids have stepped up in a big way this year, and I’m immensely proud of them all. I’m getting a little teaser of what retirement life might look like. But don't worry, I’m not going anywhere just yet! I still have a cellar door to host, among other things. Besides, I’d probably drive Marilyn around the bend if I didn’t have something to do each day.

We will be temporarily closing our B&Bs to holiday bookings next year as the properties will be leased out on a more long-term basis. While we intend to open them up again sometime down the track, if you’d like to squeeze in one more trip to Brockenchack while the opportunity is still there, be sure to book in before April 2025.

We’re excited for what the future holds, and with the next generation leading the way, steered and guided by Darren and myself for years to come yet, imparting our collective knowledge, wisdom and advice on them, we know Brockenchack will continue to thrive for many years to come.

Thank you for being part of our story from all of us at Brockenchack. Here’s to more unforgettable moments, more glasses poured, and more memories made.

Cheers,

Trev and the Brockenchack Clan