i. Biography
The Climb
Training at University of California, Davis gave Rick Kinzbrunner a technical base that shows up in the precision of the wines that followed. At Brown Brothers in Milawa (1980–1982), he worked as assistant winemaker inside a large, recognised Australian winery, where the day-to-day work of making wine would have sharpened the practical habits that later defined Giaconda. Since 1982, he has been founder and winemaker of Giaconda in Beechworth, and since 1985 he has also been importer of Sirugue wine barrels for the Australasian region of Sirugue. That second role matters: it places him not only in the cellar, but in the materials that shape what happens in it. Since 2005, Rick has served as winemaking consultant of Star Lane Vineyard and Winery. The role extends his influence beyond his own estate and points to a career built on consistency, exacting standards, and long-term attention to how wine holds up over time.
Today
At Giaconda in Beechworth, Victoria, the wines are closely tied to the place and to Rick Kinzbrunner’s name. Giaconda Chardonnay has been described as the benchmark wine that pushes out the possibilities for Australian winemakers, which places the wine inside a wider national conversation about white wine rather than simply inside one cellar. It is a bottling spoken of in terms of reach and standard-setting, not novelty. The Estate Vineyard Chardonnay carries that same discipline forward. The 2024 release was described by the winery as simply stunning and as a wine that certainly sits confidently on the podium alongside past vintages. The point is continuity: each release is judged against what came before, and the wine is held to a fixed standard rather than a changing mood. In 2001, Aeolia, a Roussanne from the same Beechworth winery, was described as equally robustly priced and awfully good. That phrasing captures the balance that has long surrounded Rick Kinzbrunner’s wines: seriousness in the making, and enough substance in the glass to justify the price.
Signature
Rick's signature wines include Estate Vineyard Chardonnay, Giaconda Chardonnay, and Aeolia. Read together, they show a style built on precision, structure, and fidelity to Giaconda in Beechworth, Victoria, where those wines have become central to his reputation.
Recognition
Rick's honors include Named one of the world's 10 best white wine makers and Australian Winemaker of the Year. These distinctions place his work beyond a single estate and mark it as one that has been closely watched within the wider world of wine.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Rick
What is Rick Kinzbrunner's current role?
As of 2026, Rick Kinzbrunner is Winemaker at Giaconda.
Where did Rick Kinzbrunner train or study?
Rick Kinzbrunner trained at University of California, Davis.
What recognition has Rick Kinzbrunner received?
Named one of the world's 10 best white wine makers (2006).
