Our History
OUR STORY
Tim Adams Wines is a renowned winery located in the Clare Valley region of South Australia. Tim had previously worked as a winemaker at the Stanley Wine Company with Mr Mick Knappstein.
Tim had a passion for winemaking from a young age and had studied viticulture and oenology at Charles Sturt University in Wagga NSW. After working at Stanley Wine Company for 12 years, Adams decided to strike out on his own and founded Tim Adams Wines in 1987 with his wife, Pam Goldsack.
The winery started with just a small vineyard and a makeshift winery in a shed on the outskirts of Clare. During these early establishment days Tim also consulted to the Queltaler winery for 5 years. However, Tim's focus on producing high-quality, handcrafted wines quickly earned the winery a reputation for excellence.
In the early years, Tim Adams Wines focused primarily on producing Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Riesling varietals, which were well-suited to the Clare Valley's unique terroir. Over time, the winery expanded its offerings to include other varietals such as Pinot Gris, Grenache, and Tempranillo and more recently Fiano.
A major change and expansion of the business came about in 2011, when Tim and Pam bought the historic site at 7 Dominic Street in Clare which, founded in 1894, had been known as the Stanley Wine company. This is where Tim served his apprenticeship under Mr Mick Knappstein and so the new addition to the business became known as ‘Mr Mick’.
The Mr Mick range of wines is targeted at everyday consumption and includes some exciting new varietals for the district, including Pinot Gris, Fiano, Sangiovese rose and dry red, Tempranillo, and Grenache.
These years of hard work, passion and curiosity have resulted in a progressive family winery that is committed to creating elegant wines, without forgetting its obligation to the Australian wine industry, environment and wider community.
Today, Tim Adams Wines is one of the most respected wineries in the Clare Valley region and has won numerous awards for its wines. While the winery has grown and evolved over the years, Adams' commitment to producing high-quality, small-batch wines remains at the heart of the business.
They now source grapes from eight family owned vineyards situated in varying parts of the Clare Valley, each having its individual aspect and characteristics. With the first company owned vineyard having been purchased in 1998, the Tim Adams Wine group now owns nine vineyards in the Clare valley, with a total of 500 acres of producing vines.
Tim Adams Wines has been a constant recipient of awards, reviews and accolades both in Australia and overseas.
Their wines have won numerous Gold Medals in the International Wine Challenge as well as Trophies for their Semillon and The Fergus.”
In 2016 Tim was recognised as one of Australia’s top ten iconic winemakers in the book - Ten Apostles - Stories of Australia's Iconic Winemakers by David Aylward and Paul Ashton.