John’s father Colin Hugo planted the original vines dating back to 1950.  The vineyard of approximately 25 hectares includes varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.  Consistency in regard to quality is what Hugo Wines’ strive for, and the fact that all of the fruit is estate grown makes the job that much easier.  The climate soils and proximity to the coast are also contributing factors in maintaining the quality of the wines produced by the Hugo family.

Over the past 30 years Hugo Wines has received many Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.  The Reserve Shiraz is made from the oldest dry grown Shiraz vines on the property.  When the old vine Shiraz grapes are processed the wine is kept separate, and the ferment is finished in new American and French oak hogsheads that have been seasoned for two years.  The decision to bottle that wine under the” Reserve” label is not made until the finished product is assessed.  Hugo Wines produced their first Reserve Shiraz in 1998, for which the most prestigious award received was “Gold” at the 2001 Boutique Wines of Australia, Category 10, Shiraz.