Portrait of Matt Burton
i. Biography
Coming Up
At Charles Sturt University, the fundamentals of structure, patience and precision were set under the sort of discipline that later shows in a winemaker’s hand. That grounding is still visible in Matt Burton’s work. As winemaker and owner of Gundog Estate since 2011, he has built a practice that keeps technical exactness in view while allowing room for a looser, more curious register, giving a Hunter Valley address a scope that runs beyond the standard cellar-door script.
Where They Are Now
At the estate in the Hunter Valley, the work moves across wine and related products, with dry gin and beer placed alongside the more familiar bottle. The operation is unconventional, but not careless: the ideas stray, the discipline holds. Burton puts that balance plainly: “I think we’re the only small producer in Australia silly enough to have two cellar doors more than 400km apart.” That mischief is part of the method, not a distraction from it. The range leans into forms that sit outside the usual wine list, and each one keeps a direct line back to raw material and place. The dry gin with a Hunter Valley semillon infusion brings the region’s white grape into spirit. Hunting Ale, made with Sydney-based Nomad Brewing, shows collaboration in a beer context. Tail Ale, a dog-friendly beer made from ethically sourced Australian beef, pushes the estate further into the unusual while keeping Australian raw material at the center. Taken together, the products show an estate working across categories without losing sight of semillon, fermentation, and the materials it chooses to work with.
Career - Winemaker and Owner — Gundog Estate, Hunter Valley (2011–present) Education: Charles Sturt University
Signature
Matt's signature dishes include dry gin, Hunting Ale, and Tail Ale.
Honors
Gundog Estate has a James Halliday five-star winery rating.
FAQ What is Matt Burton's current role? As of 2026, Matt Burton is Winemaker and Owner. Where did Matt Burton train or study? Matt Burton trained at Charles Sturt University. What is Matt Burton known for? Building a diverse range of wine and related products, including dry gin and beer, and doing things differently.
