OUR STORY

All stories have chapters; this is our next. 

Duff Wines is an independent, small batch Australian wine label and the passion project of winemaker Andrew and co-founder Jade Duff – partners in life and in wine. Our journey kicked off back in 2006, when we first crossed paths among the vines in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.

We’ve launched Duff Wines with a McLaren Vale Grenache – made at Vanguardist Winery in the Barossa, sourced from beyond our home region, but crafted in a way that reflects both where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. This wine is hands-off, minimal-intervention, and very “us” – carefully balanced alongside our day jobs in the Hunter Valley.

This isn't a vanity label - it’s a long-held dream, brought to life with love, hustle and plenty of after-hours. Duff Wines is honest, no-fuss, and full of heart - if we wouldn’t drink it ourselves, we won't make it.

We acknowledge the Wonnarua and the Kauruna people as Traditional Custodians of the lands we work and where we source fruit from and we pay our respests to Elders past, present and future.

– A & J.

Andrew Duff

Andrew is Hunter Valley born and bred, with just a twist of Kiwi! A watchmaker's son, rather than a vigneron's, he got the itch for fermenting during schoolwork experience for the 1995 Hunter Valley vintage at Reynolds of Yarraman.

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, was the location for his Bachelor of Wine Science at EIT, where he met Jade. Stints at the likes of Church Road, Tyrrell's and Eden Road (2009 Jimmy Watson Trophy) followed before a decade at the helm as the Tempus Two Winemaker. Post Graduate work at the University of Adelaide saw him a finalist for "Best Wine Student" at the 2023 Wine Communicators of Australia Awards. With 25+ years of winemaking experience, Andrew is also a past Len Evans Tutorial Scholar, Wine Australia’s Future Leaders alumni - 2023 cohort and is currently the General Manager and Winemaker for Briar Ridge Vineyard.

Jade Duff

Jade’s roots are in New Zealand. Born in Gisborne and raised in the Hawke’s Bay, she grew up with a head for numbers, a love of animals, and never says no to a great glass of wine. After nearly a decade in corporate banking, she moved to Australia and began working behind the scenes at some of the Hunter Valley’s most respected wineries. Now based at Briar Ridge Vineyard, she balances her day job with running the after-hours and weekend operations of Duff Wines. With an eye for detail, a hands-on approach, and a genuine curiosity for winemaking, Jade enjoys exploring every part of the process alongside Andrew.