Tim Smith Wines

How Barossa Reserve Discovered Tim Smith

I first met Tim at his “tin shed” tasting room at Vine Vale in the Barossa Valley, where he personally took me through his wines.

Tim has had a colourful life. Before becoming a winemaker, he worked as a roadie for Australian rock bands including Rose Tattoo, Jimmy Barnes, Dragon and Midnight Oil.

He later joined Yalumba as a cellar hand, completed a winemaking degree and built an extensive career across the Barossa Valley and wine regions around the world.

From Roadie to International Winemaker

Tim’s Australian experience includes work with respected producers such as Yalumba, St Hallett, Charles Melton, Château Tanunda and Tatachilla in McLaren Vale.

His international experience includes vintages with Chapoutier, Gabriel Meffre and Domaine du Mandeville in France, Cortes de Cima and Azamor in Portugal, and Nautilus in New Zealand.

During a study tour through France’s Rhône Valley, Tim decided that the time had come to make wines under his own name. He established Tim Smith Wines in 2001, releasing the first vintage in 2002.

Great Vineyards and a Light Hand

Tim’s approach begins with access to great vineyards, followed by timely picking, a light hand in the winery and a strong respect for tradition.

His wines are heavily influenced by the Rhône Valley, but they retain a healthy respect for the established regional character of the Barossa.

Rather than imposing a fixed formula, Tim responds to the vineyard, variety and conditions of each vintage, preserving the quality and individuality of the fruit.

A Particular Love of Mataro

Tim has a particular affection for Mataro. His Rhône-style blend places Mataro as the dominant variety, followed by Grenache and Shiraz, reversing the more common Barossa GSM order.

He also produces a premium straight Mataro that allows the variety’s savoury character, structure and complexity to take centre stage.

The Rhône influence extends to white wine through Tim’s straight Viognier. However, he is not a strong supporter of adding Viognier to Shiraz, despite the popularity of that style among some Australian producers.

Old-Vine Barossa Fruit

Tim favours mature and historic vineyards capable of producing naturally concentrated, balanced fruit.

His Reserve Shiraz is sourced from four vineyards with an average vine age of approximately fifty years.

The Mataro, Grenache and Shiraz blend draws from four vineyards averaging approximately eighty-five years of age, with the oldest vines reaching around 150 years.

The straight Mataro is sourced from three old vineyards, with the youngest vines already approximately eighty years old.

A Genuine Small Family Winery

Tim Smith Wines remains a genuine small family business. Visitors to the Vine Vale shed door are likely to meet Tim himself or one of the family members helping with the winery.

The tasting experience is deliberately informal. There are no polished scripts or carefully staged rituals. The focus remains on honest wine, direct conversation and enjoyment without unnecessary intimidation.

Barossa Valley Winemaker of the Year

In 2019, Tim was named Barossa Valley Winemaker of the Year, recognising his experience, distinctive winemaking approach and contribution to the region.

His wines combine Rhône inspiration, mature Barossa vineyards and decades of practical experience, all delivered with the humour and lack of pretension that visitors encounter at his Vine Vale tin shed.