Jessica, Robert and Lucy Hill-Smith. Image courtesy Hill-Smith Family Estates

The Hill-Smith family of Yalumba has been recognised with a national award at the 2025 Family Business Excellence Awards, announced on Thursday night during the Family Business Conference – Asia Pacific, in Sydney from 21–23 May.

Celebrating 175 years of continuous family ownership, Yalumba was named the national winner in the Legacy Family Business category—reflecting the family’s enduring vision and leadership across six generations.

The Family Business Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of family-owned businesses that demonstrate excellence, resilience, and long-term success. Having been named the South Australian state winner in 2024, the Hill-Smith family was elevated to the national stage, where its story was shared alongside other family enterprises from across the region.

Accepting the award on behalf of the family was Robert Hill-Smith, fifth-generation proprietor of Yalumba, Australia’s oldest family-owned winery.

“This award is a fitting tribute to generations past and present who have built, nurtured, and evolved this business with integrity, courage, and care,” said Hill-Smith. “Yalumba has always been about more than wine—it’s about people, place, ambition and purpose. We are deeply honoured to be recognised in this way.”

Established in 1849, Yalumba has grown from humble beginnings into a globally recognised wine business.

“For us, it’s never been about short-term wins,” Robert added. “It’s about continuing the journey with clarity and conviction, so future generations can take pride in the legacy we’ve shaped together.”

The win comes as the family concludes its 175th anniversary celebrations, marking a year of storytelling and reflection for the business.

Jessica Hill-Smith, sixth generation family member and next wave of leadership at Yalumba, said during the SA/NT state awards in 2024:

“We get to bring people together with what we do, to open a bottle of wine and tell a story about why that means something to us. And that’s worth holding onto.”

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