Val Migliaccio, Author at Totino Estate Wines

By a friend of the vine

Long before wine was poured into crystal glasses or clinked in celebration, it was a gift from the land—a humble, fermented offering that united ancient communities.

Archaeologists have reportedly found traces of winemaking dating back more than 8,000 years in Georgia, where people pressed grapes with their bare hands, let nature take its course, and shared the resulting magic in clay jars.

Since then, wine has flowed through human history like a river—across the Mediterranean, through the hills of Tuscany, into family cellars and festive tables across the world.

Wine, at its core, is more than a drink.

It is a bridge between land and spirit, between the grower and the glass, between generations.

In every bottle, there is soil, weather, sweat, patience, and passion.

There is something deeply grounding about how vines wrap themselves around a patch of earth, how they carry its story in every berry.

Wine reflects where it comes from, and in the hands of good people, it reflects who we are at our best—joyful, generous, grounded.

Australia’s love affair with wine took root in the early 19th century, but it wasn’t until the 1960s and 70s that it truly blossomed into a national passion.

What began as a niche pursuit by European migrants, particularly Italians and Greeks, soon became a mainstream movement.

By the 1990s, Australian wines had gained international acclaim, and wine culture became a household norm.

From backyard BBQs to gourmet dinners, wine joined the rhythm of Australian life, blending perfectly with our love of the land, good food, and great conversation.

Growing up around Italians, particularly Calabrians like Don Totino—I’ve always known wine not as a vice, but as a virtue.

At the Totino Estate in Paracombe, Don carries the legacy of his family with grace and purpose.

His roots run deep, both in Italy and in the rich South Australian soil where his vineyard flourishes.

Wine, to him, is not just business.

It’s a way of honouring the old country, of carrying forward stories and traditions of those who worked the land before us—fathers, uncles, nonni—who gathered at long wooden tables with carafes of homemade red, laughing over, pane, polpette and pasta, telling stories as the sun dipped behind the hills.

I’ve seen how wine brings people together.

Around the table, we toast to life, we open up, we share.

Festa after festa, the clinking of glasses “Cin, Cin” is like a drumbeat for human connection.

In this way, wine is a kind of spiritual ritual, about reverence.

Respectful drinking, as the Calabrians have always known, is about joy and moderation, about singing a little louder, dancing a little freer, loving a little more.

Wine takes us back to the earth and lifts us into celebration.

That’s the truth Don Totino lives every day.

And that’s what makes wine eternal.

Totino Estate Wines is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new, user-friendly website — a digital space that brings our story, our people, and our wines to life like never before.

And because our journey is about connection, we’re inviting everyone to join us on social media.

As a thank you, those who like or follow our pages will receive a special surprise — just our way of saying welcome to the family.

Based in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, our family-owned estate in Paracombe has long been celebrated for its boutique wines and warm hospitality.

Now, with the launch of our redesigned website, our mission is to bring that same experience online — whether you’re in Adelaide or across the globe.

The new platform is intuitive, easy to navigate, and full of features designed to enhance the way customers interact with our wines and the people behind them.

Visitors to the website will enjoy a seamless browsing experience, with simplified access to our full range of locally produced and imported Italian wines and spirits.

Want to learn about our vineyards nestled in the heart of Paracombe?

Interested in our exclusive partnerships with top-tier Italian wine makers? It’s all here. We’ve created space to showcase the passion, knowledge, and hard work that goes into every bottle — from grape to glass.

Even more exciting is the behind-the-scenes access. Meet the dedicated Totino family team, explore the stories of the artisans we work with in Italy, and discover how tradition and innovation come together in every vintage we release. Our deep-rooted connections to Italy ensure we import only the finest wines and spirits, offering Australian wine lovers a rare opportunity to taste authentic, high-quality drops without leaving home.

We can’t wait to share the official launch date with you very soon. The new website marks an exciting chapter for Totino Estate Wines, one that will bring us even closer to the people who matter most — you, our customers.

Watch this space — and don’t forget to follow us for that special surprise!

At Totino Estate Wines, every bottle tells the story of dedication, family, and nature’s purest elements.

The heart of our estate lies in the Paracombe property, nestled in the pristine Adelaide Hills, where the land remains untouched, and the air is fresh, unspoiled by pollution.

Here, the Totino family works tirelessly to bring you wines that reflect the beauty of their surroundings and the care they put into every vine.

Don Totino, the founder and owner, alongside his family, personally tends to the vineyards, ensuring each vine is nurtured with love and attention.

The family’s involvement in the process is mostly hands-on—from pruning the vines to hand-picking the grapes at just the right moment.

It’s a labour of love, where every step is taken with care, understanding that great wine starts with great grapes.

The Adelaide Hills, known for its natural beauty and minimal human interference, provides the ideal environment for grape growing.

With its rolling hills, cool climate, and rich soils, the region is perfect for cultivating wines that are pure and true to their roots.

The Totino Estate’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility ensures that this land, which has been in the family for nearly four decades, will remain as it is for future generations.

In this serene and untouched corner of the world, the climate embraces the vines, and the surrounding landscape offers a sense of freedom and peace.

It’s in this environment that Totino Estate Wines flourishes, creating wines that carry the essence of the Adelaide Hills, lovingly crafted by those who call it home.

The 2025 vintage at Totino Estate Wines will be remembered as one marked by resilience, precision, and nature’s unrelenting force.

A prolonged summer drought, particularly severe during summer and early autumn, tested both vineyard and vigneron to their limits.

Yet, amid the parched landscape of Paracombe in the Adelaide Hills, our vines stood tall, adapting with quiet strength to the trying conditions.

The lack of rainfall demanded an extraordinary level of care in vineyard management.

Every decision—from canopy trimming to irrigation timing—was crucial in maintaining vine health and protecting fruit integrity.

Our small team worked closely with the land, responding daily to its signs and needs.

Remarkably, the fruit that emerged was concentrated, vibrant, and bursting with varietal character.

Sangiovese proved especially hardy, developing intense cherry and savoury spice notes with fine, structured tannins.

Pinot Grigio thrived under pressure, yielding fruit with crisp acidity and delicate pear-blossom aromatics.

Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon vines, though challenged, ripened slowly and evenly, delivering berries rich in colour and complexity.

The Chardonnay showed remarkable poise, with elegant citrus notes and flinty minerality, while our Sauvignon Blanc was a standout—zippy, tropical, and delightfully aromatic.

While yields were naturally down, the 2025 vintage promises wines of intensity and elegance, shaped by adversity and perfected by patience.

In the glass, these wines will tell a story—not just of a difficult season, but of the care, skill, and passion behind every bottle.

Totino Estate’s 2025 vintage is a tribute to what vines can endure, and what wine can become, when the elements push us to our most attentive and heartfelt winemaking.

Totino Estate Wines Grand Launch Celebration at Don Totino’s Cellar Door
922 Port Road, Albert Park
June [date to be confirmed]
From 5pm until late

You’re invited to a night to remember as Totino Estate Wines celebrates its official website launch with a spectacular evening at Don Totino’s Cellar Door in Albert Park!

Set in our newly styled tasting room at 922 Port Road, Albert Park this special event will bring together friends, wine lovers, and South Australia’s vibrant hospitality community for an evening of pure vino joy.

Come and experience the heart and soul of Totino Estate Wines – grown in the hills of Paracombe and inspired by the passion of Italy coupled with Italy’s finest cocktail food.

Guests will be treated to a glass of sparkling on arrival and a curated tasting of some of our finest wine varietals – from bold reds to crisp whites – straight from our family vineyard. But that’s not all!

We’ll also be offering exclusive tastes of our imported Italian selections – a nod to our roots and our commitment to quality.

Each guest will receive a complimentary gift to mark the occasion, and of course, there will be special opportunities to purchase limited-release wines at launch-only prices.

This is more than just a tasting – it’s a celebration of where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. Join us as we raise a glass to Totino Estate Wines stepping into a bold new chapter, blending old-world tradition with new-world South Australian excellence.

Whether you’re a long-time supporter or just discovering us for the first time, we’d love to share this milestone with you.

RSVP essential. Invitations strictly limited.
Cheers to great wine, great company, and great beginnings!