Montara is owned by the Stapleton family, who acquired the vineyard in 2006 after a long history in the Australian export and agribusiness industries. They chose the property for its scenic location and suitability for premium wine production.

This dynamic group of six siblings has given Montara a youthful exuberance, where tradition meets a new era of winemaking. They are firm believers that wine brings people together, so you will often find the Stapletons celebrating life with beautiful food, music, and wine. They hope to encapsulate this experience in each and every bottle crafted.

The abandoned mineshaft at our vineyard in Ararat will forever commemorate the fortunate discovery of the Canton Lead, one of the largest shallow alluvial goldfields in history. It was serendipitously discovered in 1857 by 700 southern Chinese miners who stopped in the area to replenish their water supplies, and triggered the beginning of the great Ararat Rush.

After the demise of the gold rush in 1858, two Frenchmen, Messrs. Blampied and Trouette, planted vines in the region at Great Western. Shortly after, Joseph and Henry Best also established vineyards there, using ex-miners to dig underground drives to house the wines, and the sparkling wine industry of Australia was born…

…Over the years the district continued to flourish as several wine growers followed in Best’s footsteps. In 1970, the McRae family planted the first Montara vineyards on the eastern slopes of Mount Chalambar, a site chosen for its frost-free location. The inaugural Montara vintages were released in 1977.

Today the Grampians is one of Australia’s most historic wine regions, with over 150 years of winemaking across a wide range of varieties and styles.