Lillydale Estate

18/04/2026

Vale Alex White, founder of Lillydale Vineyards - now Lillydale Estate.

Alex was one of the pioneers of the rebirth of the Yarra Valley wine industry in the 1970s.

He was a research scientist at Carlton United Breweries when he discovered wine and in 1976, with Martin Grinsberg and his then wife Judith, planted Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Lillydale Estate site and the wines they made were very highly regarded and awarded.

The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines remain.

Alex was a key figure in the Yarra Valley Industry in the 1970s and 1980s, the President of the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association (now Wine Yarra Valley) for four years and instrumental in the first winery tourism signage and the infamous grape grazing festival.

Alex passed away on the 14th March 2026 and we acknowledge his contribution and influence.

15/10/2025

Old & New - 1975 Chardonnay with 2026 Pinot Noir in the planning …
What a glorious Spring day

01/05/2025

So pretty today ..

15/04/2025

New horizons! Look at that lovely Upper Yarra dirt - perfect for new Pinot Noir in the Spring ..

04/03/2025

Pinot for miles! What a great year for it - stunning fruit, solid yields and perfect ripening conditions ….👌👌

02/03/2025

19/02/2025

Magnificent fruit from 49 year old Chardonnay vines known as the ‘St Hubert’s’ clone and thought to be the last remaining material sourced originally from the historic Yarra Valley Estate.
Samples are currently under genetic analysis as part of Wine Yarra Valleys Icinic Vine project Wine Yarra Valley to confirm.

12/02/2025

Magnificent! Old vine (1976) p58 Chardonnay

06/12/2023

What a day!

01/08/2021

Finally some good weather to get pruning underway.