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Torbreck Woodcutter’s Semillon is a white wine made from 100% Semillon grapes sourced from the Barossa Valley wine-growing region of Australia. Originally from the Bordeaux wine-growing region of France, the Semillon grape variety has found a natural home in the Barossa and was first planted in the region by some of the first settlers over 160 years ago. One of the best Barossa Semillons and a very versatile food wine.
Torbreck Vintners was founded in 1994 by David Powell and is situated in Marananga, on the western ridge of the Barossa Valley. The roots go back to 1992, when Powell, then working at Rockford, began to discover and clean up a few sections of dry-grown old vines, so that he could purchase the fruit for his own wine. The first wine made under the Torbreck label was during the 1995 vintage, with the finished wines released in 1997. They almost immediately became famous for their old vine red wines including The Struie, The Descendant and Runrig.
Torbreck was acquired by Peter Knight, the owner of Quivira Winery in Sonoma County, in 2008, and the senior winemaker is Ian Hongell. Under the new management, Torbreck’s unwavering commitment to preserving old-vine Barossa vineyards and heritage clones, while integrating sustainable vineyard practices throughout their estate, continues. Much of the fruit is sourced from Torbreck’s own vineyards, with some sourced from selected family growers from throughout the Barossa Valley, many of whom have been supplying Torbreck since the beginning.
Semillon has always found a natural home in the Barossa and was first planted in the region over 160 years ago by some of the first settlers in the region. Torbreck Woodcutter’s Semillon is made from 100% Semillon (Madeira Clone, a more robust and pink-skinned clone, see the WineWiki tab) sourced from the Ebenezer, Lyndoch and Rowland Flat sub-districts of the Barossa. Woodcutter’s Semillon is reminiscent of the savoury white wines found in the central and southern regions of France.
Torbreck Semillon tasting notes:
Torbreck Woodcutter’s Semillon wine shows lifted aromas of fresh citrus fruits of Amalfi lemon, kaffir lime, grapefruit pith, balanced by aromatic perfume of citrus flowers such as lemon myrtle and lime blossom. The palate is a little firmer and tighter than previous vintages with tangy, needle-like acidity cleansing to the finish. Enjoy as either a fresh young wine or age for up to 15 years to reveal brioche, lemon curd pastry-like notes.
2024 Vintage
94 Points – Natalie Maclean
93 Points – Ryan Montgomery, November 2024, www.jamessuckling.com
94 Points – Eric Larkin, Wine Advocate, April 2025
Is this a dry wine?
Yes, it’s fully dry with crisp, focused acidity with no noticeable residual sugar, and delivers a refreshing, savoury style.
Is Torbreck Woodcutter’s Semillon suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, this wine is vegan and vegetarian-friendly (no animal-derived fining agents are used).
How long can I age this wine for?
Semillon can be a very long-lived wine and this one should age gracefully for 10 to 15 years.
Why Is This Wine Called Woodcutter’s?
The ‘Woodcutter’s‘ range is so named after founder Dave Powell who spent time as a woodsman in the Torbreck Forest located near Inverness in north-eastern Scotland. His time in the Highlands is also reflected in other wine names, including The Pict, The Laird, The Struie and The Steading.
What is the “Madeira Clone” of Semillon?
The Semillon grape variety is normally thought of as a green-skinned white grape variety, as found in plantings in the Hunter Valley or Bordeaux.
However, the Madeira Clone is a unique, historic mutation found in the Barossa Valley which has a distinct pinkish-grey skin. It also has thicker skins and is more robust than standard Semillon. This clone produces a wine with more weight, a deeper golden colour and a richer texture.
While we usually think of traditional Semillon as a lean and citrusy wine, wines made with the Madeira clone offer a more “gastronomic” profile and can stand up to much heavier food pairings.
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