Bruce Gregory

The Climb

Built through vintage work, cellar work, lab work, and then winemaking, Bruce Gregory’s path through the trade reads as accumulation rather than reinvention. He started as vintage worker at Barossa Valley winery in Barossa Valley, moved to cellar-hand at Barossa Valley winery in Barossa Valley, then took on laboratory staff at Barossa Valley winery in Barossa Valley before stepping into winemaking at Penfolds Wine in Barossa Valley. Each role added another layer of practical control over the process, from the physical pace of the cellar to the more exacting discipline of the lab. The sequence continued through winemaking posts at Woodley Wines in Barossa Valley, Peter Lehmann Wines in Barossa Valley, and Brands Laira Wines in Coonawarra. That progression built the kind of judgement that comes from repeated exposure to different sites, different vintages, and different house requirements. It is that groundwork that now sits behind his role as Senior Winemaker at Majella Wines in Coonawarra.

Today

At Majella Wines, Bruce Gregory works from a simple rule: keep the wine close to the Majella style, and let the vintage speak within that frame. When he is developing a new wine, the team refers to the winemaking style of the vintage and stays as close to the Majella style as possible. The method is conservative in the best trade sense — less about forcing a new direction than about protecting house expression while responding to the year.

Career - Senior Winemaker — Majella Wines, Coonawarra - Vintage worker — Barossa Valley winery, Barossa Valley - Cellar-hand — Barossa Valley winery, Barossa Valley - Laboratory staff — Barossa Valley winery, Barossa Valley - Winemaker — Penfolds Wine, Barossa Valley - Winemaker — Woodley Wines, Barossa Valley - Winemaker — Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley - Winemaker — Brands Laira Wines, Coonawarra

Signature

Bruce’s signature wines include The Malleea, The Musician, Majella Cabernet Sauvignon, Sparkling Shiraz, and Shiraz. Together they show a working range that stays inside a consistent house style while still covering distinct expressions across structure, depth, and line.

In Their Words “If I am developing a new wine, we refer to the winemaking style of the vintage, and we keep as close to the Majella style as possible.”

In Their Words

In Their Words

In Their Words

In Their Words

In Their Words he joined the winery as winemaker in January 1999 after previously making wine for the Brand family’s Laira winery in 1991, and Wine Australia notes that he has been Majella’s winemaker for more than 22 years and has helped the winery win major international and domestic trophies. And we keep as close to the Majella style as possible.” he joined the winery as winemaker in January 1999 after previously making wine for the Brand family’s Laira winery in 1991. he joined the winery as winemaker in January 1999 after previously making wine for the Brand family’s Laira winery in 1991, and Wine Australia notes that he has been Majella’s winemaker for more than 22 years and has helped the winery win major international and domestic trophies.