The selection of a vineyard site is of paramount importance and it can take years to find the right piece of terroir. Bill discovered his dream on the west slopes of Mt.Camel in the Heathcote district, planting a 10 acre vineyard of Shiraz vines on 143 acres of rare, north facing Cambrian Earth. It was a modest start, with borrowed equipment, friendly neighbours and supportive family. Bill spent those early years camped in a caravan, which remains on site, not far from a large gum tree under which he built a ‘thunderbox’ (the Australian country version of an outdoor toilet).

The cold nights finally got to Bill and he decided it was time to pass the dream on. In 2001, Domaines Tatiarra purchased the property and continues to develop the original dream. Bill Hepburn oversaw the growing of the grapes used in the first vintage of Tatiarra Cambrian Shiraz and remains involved with the development of the company as a very interested outsider. The Caravan of Dreams Shiraz Pressings is made in Bill Hepburn's honour.

Today Tatiarra vineyard continues to attract visionaries. Tatiarra winemaker, Ben Riggs has his own dream about Heathcote and Shiraz. Ben is based in McLaren Vale, South Australia where his obsession for producing extraordinary Shiraz is well known. With Tatiarra, he was challenged to produce a wine that would rank amongst the giants of the Shiraz world – Tatiarra Trademark Shiraz – a unique blend of McLaren Vale and Heathcote fruit.


As Bill Hepburn’s dream continues to inspire wine enthusiasts, it is comforting to know that the integrity of his original vision is being well preserved. Contracts have been let to expand the original Tatiarra vineyard with a further 12.75 acres in 2003. The new planting will be complete by November of that year. The same clone of Shiraz has been selected for the new block, as its performance to date has been outstanding, but one proviso stands – the clone does not respond well to heavy cropping. Therefore, yields will be maintained below the average of 2.65 tonnes per acre.