In 2025, Campbells Wines will be celebrating its 155th anniversary.
The company’s story began back in 1870, when John Campbell left the goldfields to join the first winegrowers of Rutherglen. Over the next five generations, the family continued to expand their business by first introducing sheep, before diversifying the property with new technology.
Today, sisters Jane and Julie Campbell are fifth generation owners of Campbells Wines, run for the first time by two women. The company prides itself on evolution, tenacity, experience and a dedication to innovation.
While Jane is Managing Director and oversees branding, Julie is the winemaker responsible for maintaining the iconic Campbells flavour. The sisters are passionate about creating an authentic winery experience, and constantly reaching new heights.
“Wine is in our blood,” the sisters say. “We’ve grown up with it. We live it, breathe it and love it.”
Sisters Jane and Julie Campbell
Women in Wine
Historically, women have been depressingly underrepresented in leadership positions in the business sector. However, Wine Australia reveals that women now make up 33.7 percent of CEOs in the winemaking industry, rising 21 percent over the last ten years. Similarly, women now make up 16.7 percent of winemakers, an improvement of 7.9 percent since 2013.
More and more, women are being acknowledged for their winemaking prowess, however there is still a long way to go before achieving gender equality. It’s people like Jane and Julie who continue to show the success that comes when working under female leadership, encouraging an end to lasting stigma and fuelling a more inclusive future.
A private tasting at Campbells Wine
Campbells’ famous wines
Since Jane and Julie inherited the business, they have added Tempranillo, Roussanne and Viognier to the wine range, with promises of more to come.
Campbells is well known for its consistent style across all of its wine varieties, which are friendly on the palate and the bank. The Bobbie Burns Shiraz has 52 consecutive vintages, the first released in 1970. In the heart of the Campbells cellar, its Muscats and Topaques are kept in ancient barrels for decades, resulting in a delicious maturity.
When visiting the cellar door, you can sample this impressive range of Rutherglen wines, while also learning about the history of winemaking and exploring the cellars. You can also choose to join a guided tasting in a private room, where an expert from the winemaking team will lead you through a sample of the best wines on offer. Don’t forget to order a charcuterie board when you’re done, to enjoy while soaking in views across the vibrant vineyard.
Enjoying a drink in the beautiful vineyard
The Rutherglen region
Located just 3.5 hours from Melbourne or 30 minutes from Albury, Rutherglen is a small Victorian town with a rich winemaking history. It is home to more than 20 award-winning wineries, as well as restaurants, cafes and local produce farms. For more than 160 years, winemakers and their families have flocked here to start their businesses and make use of the fertile soil.
Cellar doors in Rutherglen range from grand to boutique to tiny and rustic. Each just a short distance from each other, it’s easy to spend a whole day jumping from vineyard to vineyard to discover all the different offerings available here.
At Campbell Wines, there’s always a packed calendar of events and celebrations to enjoy. Join sunset drinks to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal and bottle of wine with friends and family while watching the sunset over the vineyard and listening to live music. Or, if you’re visiting around Easter, take part in Campbells picnic for easter eggs, face painting and games for the whole family.
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