When the Hamilton family began planning the launch of their new Richard Hamilton Lineage wine range, they turned to the family archives — a rich visual record spanning generation.
As one of Australia’s first families of wine, there was no shortage of photographs to draw inspiration from. The Hamiltons have a remarkable winemaking history that stretches back over 188 years, with six generations of experience behind them — and the tradition continues today with 5th generation winemaker Dr Richard Hamilton at the helm.
It all began in 1837 when his great-great-grandfather, also Richard Hamilton, arrived in Adelaide from Dover, England, with his wife Ann and eight of their nine children. Shortly after, he secured an 80-acre parcel of land along the Sturt River, just six miles south of Adelaide, where he planted vine cuttings sent from Cape Town, South Africa. The result? South Australia’s first wines — and the birth of a winemaking legacy that has endured ever since.
The newly released Richard Hamilton Lineage range celebrates that ongoing legacy, launching with a collection of McLaren Vale wines — including Almond Grove Chardonnay, Lot 148 Merlot, Little Road Shiraz, and Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon — along with Les Collines Pinot Gris from the Adelaide Hills. The range will soon be joined by the Richard Hamilton Long Stem Sparkling Fiano — a fresh take on one of the Mediterranean’s standout alternative white varieties.
Each bottle in the Lineage collection features a striking black and white photograph that captures key moments in the family’s winemaking journey — from early cold fermentations in wooden vats and large-format maturation, to distillation, fortification and even wartime contributions such as support for the Women’s Land Army. These images not only evoke the Hamiltons’ story, but also Australia’s broader viticultural and social history.
The Little Road Shiraz from McLaren Vale is adorned with an image of three towering 1000-gallon Russian oak ovals inside the original Hamilton Ewell Cellars at Marion — a nod to the region’s deep association with robust, full-bodied Shiraz.
Meanwhile, the label of the plush Lot 148 Merlot features a photograph of cellar hands working with sweet sherry barriques in the same Marion cellar during the 1940s. The name itself references Lot 148 — the land beside the Sturt River where South Australia’s winemaking story arguably began, thanks to Richard Hamilton’s pioneering efforts.
The Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon pays homage to the hard workers of the past, with a photo of three vineyard hands posing proudly beside a 1920s Ford Model T at the Hut Block vineyard. Charming detail? A humble brick once served as the handbrake — a far cry from today’s technology.
The Les Collines Pinot Gris from the Adelaide Hills puts the spotlight on a member of the Australian Women’s Land Army, formed during World War II to fill the labour gap left by men joining the armed forces. It’s a moving tribute to the resilience and contribution of women in agriculture during difficult times.
And finally, the Almond Grove Chardonnay features a safari-suited member of the Hamilton Ewell viticulture team mid-conversation with four members of the Women’s Land Army — a cheeky moment of “mansplaining” perhaps, but also a snapshot of camaraderie, teamwork and shared purpose during harvest season.
The new label design is a masterclass in understated elegance — the refreshed logo is clean and refined, framed by an Admiral-blue band. This colour, found on early Hamilton labels, subtly evokes the region’s coastal identity and acknowledges the family’s seafaring origins and McLaren Vale’s ocean-cooled climate.
With nearly two centuries of winemaking behind them, the Hamilton family remains future-focused. The Richard Hamilton Lineage range is a tribute to their past and a celebration of where they’re headed — blending innovation with tradition, and heritage with a modern twist.
Visit Richard Hamilton at 439 Main Road, McLaren Vale or go to richardhamiltonwines.com
