About the vineyard
Domaine Razal is carved out of 350 acres of dense eucalyptus bushland in Lauriston, 15km west of Kyneton in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.
At an altitude of 600m above sea level, 25 acres of vines grow with the struggle of some of the toughest climatic conditions, making it one of Australia’s most elevated and marginal sites.
Planted over 55 years ago, the original vines still flourish in the cool-climate region, producing the low-yield, intensely concentrated fruit that has earned the vineyard its storied history and reputation.
The History
Initial vine plantings in the Macedon Ranges date back to the 1860s, but 1968 marked the region’s renaissance.
It was then that the first grape vines were planted on this Lauriston site, the pioneering vision of celebrated Melbourne restaurateur Tom Lazar, who named his vineyard Virgin Hills Estate.
His first vintage was produced in 1971, and Lazar’s Virgin Hills soon gained international acclaim for its distinctive red blend, with each vintage aiming to rival the Bordeaux wines he admired.
Ownership passed to Marcel Gilbert in 1979, and under his stewardship, the vineyard further solidified its reputation. Lazar (pictured above in his Virgin Hills cellar) remained as winemaker until 1983. After a period of corporate ownership by Vincorp, in 2000 the Hunter Valley’s Hope Estate took over.
A fresh start
New owners Stephen and Kerri Stack purchased the vineyard in 2021 and have been restoring it since: focused on the rejuvenation of its 25-acres of established vines, and the original brick winery and famed underground cellar, with hopes to return the vineyard to its once iconic status.
In a nod to Tom Lazar, they have renamed the estate Domaine Razal.
In October 2024, a new chapter began as Domaine Razal released its first vintage (2022), and the first wine in three decades to be estate-grown, hand-picked, processed and bottled on site — reviving one of Australia’s most special vineyards.
