High on a ridge in northern McLaren Vale stands the historic stone chapel that gives this estate its name. Boarded up and in disrepair by the early 1970s, it caught the eye of Adelaide professor Thomas Nelson, who purchased the building and surrounding land from the Uniting Church and planted the first vines in 1972, patiently converting the old chapel into a winery, offices and tasting room.
The stained glass window at the heart of the renovation, now Chapel Hill’s emblem, is said to have been crafted in Glasgow around 1770 and was rescued from an Adelaide chapel destined for demolition.
Under pioneering winemaker Pam Dunsford, the first female graduate of Roseworthy’s acclaimed winemaking course in 1983, Chapel Hill grew into a world-renowned producer, with many of its wines from the 1990s still drinking beautifully today.
