Our Story

Mount Broke Wines is located on the property known locally as "Harrowby" owned by the McNamara family who settled in the Broke (Hunter Valley) area in 1905. For 80 years it was operated as a successful dairy farm.

William (Bill) McNamara established the farm on the fertile banks of the Wollombi Brook as a working dairy farm selling milk, cream & butter in nearby Singleton. Bill's son Frank, one of 12 children, took over in the 1930s and his son Neil took over the thriving dairy business in the 1950s. Neil was also the mayor of Singleton for 29 years and when he retired his son Tony took over operation of the farm in the early 1990s. 

The dairy industry in the Hunter Valley went into a decline in the latter part of the 20th Century and the majority of the property converted to beef cattle (Black Angus) in 1996.

Phil McNamara established the 20 acre Mount Broke Wines Vineyard in 1997. The former milking shed was converted into a Cellar Door and Restaurant to retail the estate grown wines and opened in 2001.

The vineyard has developed a great reputation for quality wines with Shiraz being the standout. Mount Broke Wines Shiraz has been acclaimed with Gold medals in the 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2011 Vintages. Silver and Bronze medals were achieved in 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2006.

The Cellar door offers one of the standout views of the Hunter Valley across an easterly aspect of the Brokenback Range sandstone escarpments.

Phil and his wife, Gina, are focused on creating an atmosphere you can only appreciate by being here.