Topper’s Mountain has introduced a new brand identity and restructured its small-batch portfolio into three ranges: Seeker, Finder and Keeper, with updated packaging designed by Adelaide-based design and brand agency Parallax and labels printed by Label Avenue, reflecting the New England winery’s landscape and production approach.
The sloping label design across the ranges reflects the rugged terrain of the vineyard and the journey of the family winery, while each bottle in the Keeper range is individually numbered. The Finder range features label artwork depicting natural elements such as feathers, sticks, stones and insects, with each bottle designed to capture the vineyard site.
The company says the new brand identity and range structure draw on the “innovative DNA” of the Kirkby family across all brand touchpoints.
The relaunch coincides with the release of the Topper’s Mountain Keeper Tempranillo Blanco 2023, which the company says marks the first time this variety has been produced in Australia. The winery also says it has Australia’s only known plantings of Tempranillo Blanco.
The three ranges segment the winery’s portfolio. Seeker is positioned as an introductory range, including Seeker White, Seeker Pink and Seeker Red, with varietals changing between vintages. Finder focuses on wines shaped by the vineyard site, with current releases including Gewurztraminer, Nebbiolo Extra Brut Rosé, Manseng, and a Touriga and Tintas blend. Keeper represents limited releases, including Tempranillo Blanco and other varieties such as Viognier and Nebbiolo.
Owner and vigneron Mark Kirkby said the winery has focused on alternative varieties suited to the region since its establishment.
“Since day one, I’ve experimented with alternative wine varieties that best suit the high altitude, cool climate and rich, red volcanic ash soils. It’s been a long search, but one that’s shown the importance of variety selection and site to wine quality,” Kirkby said.
He said the updated branding reflects the winery’s approach and the structure of the new ranges.
“The new look brings to life the pioneering spirit of the New England region and Topper’s Mountain with the range definition giving a playful sense of discovery across the range. We’re excited to share the new look and our range of wines with guests who visit our cellar door and as we roll it out to the trade,” he said.
Kirkby also described the development of the Nebbiolo Extra Brut Rosé.
“Our Nebbiolo Extra Brut Rose sparkling was what turned out to be a happy accident from the 2021 vintage. A forecast of heavy rain in late March put us in a pickle - we could roll the dice and see if the nebbiolo could ride out the weather, or we could pick early to save as much fruit as possible and try our hand at making a sparkling wine,” he said.
“We chose the sparkling wine route and made our first traditional method sparkling wine using Nebbiolo, and it was so enticing that we have kept it a staple in the portfolio ever since.”
Topper’s Mountain is located in the New England region of NSW, which the company describes as one of Australia’s youngest wine regions. The vineyard was established in 2000, with initial plantings of 22 varieties, including 15 in a mixed “Fruit Salad” block used to assess suitability to the site’s climate, soil and topography. The vineyard now grows 18 varieties across 10 hectares, with the trial block continuing to guide varietal selection.
The winery’s vineyard practices focus on minimal impact, including sheep grazing among the vines during cooler months and slashing of under-vine and inter-row vegetation to support soil and vine health. The company says pesticides have not been used on site since 2002, with self-seeding vegetation supporting biodiversity and predator species to manage pests.
Located eight kilometres north of Tingha, NSW, the Topper’s Mountain tasting room includes floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor deck overlooking the vineyard and Macintyre River valley. Visitors can take part in tastings and charcuterie experiences, with sessions hosted by Kirkby or Jan Taborsky, winemaker.
The Seeker, Finder and Keeper ranges are available online via the winery and at the Tingha tasting room by appointment only, with wider distribution planned across independent bottle shops and venue wine lists.
