Wantirna Estate goes on the market after more than six decades in family hands

For Maryann Egan, making wine at Wantirna Estate means knowing every vine – and doing the work herself. From shoot thinning to the winery, her attention reaches into every corner of the small family property.

“I do everything myself," she says. "I want to de-sucker every vine, because I think it makes better wine. I want to do all the little things.” It's those small efforts – the five per cent contributions that accumulate across a season – that are central to her approach. With occasional assistance, Maryann tends the vineyard and makes its wines, maintaining an intimacy with the site that few larger operations could match.

Her parents, Reg and Tina Egan, established Wantirna Estate in 1963, helping begin the Yarra Valley’s modern revival. Maryann brought experience at Domaine Chandon and studies in wine science to the family business, which remains remarkably compact: around four hectares of vines and roughly 700 dozen bottles annually. Recognisable by the iconic Michael Leunig illustrations on their labels, the wines have attracted something of a cult following, with a loyal mailing list eagerly taking up each release.

Now, the property is for sale. At 62, with neither her children nor her nieces interested in pursuing winemaking ("which is totally fair enough", she adds), Maryann is making space to consider her own future.

“The business is in great shape,” she says. “It was time to think about what’s next.” What that means for the vineyard, brand and her ongoing involvement remains undecided. “It’s expressions of interest, so it’s just exactly that. We’re not making any predictions of who, what, where. We don’t know.”

Maryann Egan in the winery.

For now, work continues. The 2025 reds are scheduled for release next year, the 2026 wines are in the winery, and Maryann is working towards vintage 2027. With no fixed departure date, Maryann's transition will depend on the interest received and the arrangements negotiated with a buyer.

Meanwhile, her latest releases demonstrate what that dedication delivers. Philip Rich awarded the 2024 Amelia Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 98+ points, and both the 2024 Lily Pinot Noir and 2025 Isabella Chardonnay scored 97 points.

All three have already sold out through the estate, although lucky punters might still be able to secure bottles in restaurants or wine shops. As Maryann says, "We've got a really strong mailing list but we have always worked with a distributor, because I think it's really important to young people, to the way they connect. They might have our wine at a restaurant, or from the Prince Wine Store, and then they might jump on our mailing list."

Reg and Maryann Egan in the vineyard.

Beyond the wines, Maryann values the relationships built with customers, many now friends. Some have watched her grow up, then watched her children grow up, too (Reg and Tina's grandchildren are the inspiration for each of the Wantirna wine names). Looking back, she’s proud of maintaining Wantirna’s identity while continually finding ways to improve.

“I feel like we’ve always made wines that we want to have,” she says. “We’ve stuck to what we’ve always done well.”

Interested in Wantirna Estate? Expressions of interest close at 2pm on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Contact Danny Clark, Andrew Waddell or Glenn Ye at Gross Waddell ICR through the sale listing for further information or to arrange an inspection.