A Reflection by Rosie Cupitt

If you'd told me 18 years ago that our plan for a small farm to run cattle and grow grapes with a little restaurant in an old creamery would turn into this, I might have laughed over a glass of Chardonnay. And yet, here we are: a thriving estate built on wine, hospitality, and the joy of sharing it all.

Cupitt’s Estate began with a feeling more than a forecast. Griff and I weren't chasing a business plan but following a calling. One that said:make something beautiful, do it with care, and always bring people together around the table.

In 2007, we opened the doors of our cellar door and restaurant, nestled into the old stone creamery. We were full of hope (and a bit of naivety), but the vines were young, the wines were honest, and the views across Burrill Lake and the Budawangs seemed to do half the work for us.

From the very beginning, the philosophy was simple: wine first, let the quality of what we make guide the rest. Our food followed the same thinking: find quality local produce and let it speak for itself. Every dish and every drop is made for our lifestyle here on the South Coast. 

What has grown since then is nothing short of a family legacy. Not just our children Tom and Wally, and Tom’s wife Libby, who have taken our idea and made it soar, but also the community we've built in the Shoalhaven, the team who now call Cupitt’s home, and the guests who return, time and time again, to celebrate their milestones with us.

Over the years, we added a microbrewery, a fromagerie, boutique villas, and countless experiences that take people deeper into Cupitt’s story. But at the heart of it all remains a glass of wine, poured with care, and a table set for connection. That will never change.

Of course, there have been challenges, such as droughts, fires, floods, and a pandemic, but every time, we found strength in our purpose and in each other. And what's more, we learned. We evolved. We kept asking:How can we do this better?How can we be more sustainable, more welcoming, and more true to who we are?

I’m proud of our wines and team and deeply grateful to the community that has embraced Cupitt's from day one. This isn't just a place you visit. It's a feeling. It's a rhythm. It's family, flavour, and the joy of being together.

Eighteen years later, we're still chasing potential, experimenting, and learning from the land and each other. We're so excited about what's next.

Thank you to everyone who has shared a glass, a story, or a moment with us over the years. We raise a glass to you.

With love,

Rosie Cupitt Founder, Winemaker, Cheesemaker & Matriarch of Cupitt’s Estate