Vanya Cullen OAM has been working on the farm most of her life and has been winemaking at her family’s Wilyabrup estate since 1983. She was appointed to chief winemaker in 1989 and managing director in 1999. During that time, she has been rigorously experimenting in the vineyard (especially with soil and trellis management) and in the winery all the while looking to give her wines greater complexity.
Her palate has been honed by judging throughout Australia and overseas, and by her continuous pursuit of a thorough knowledge of the wines of the world. Ms Cullen sits on the Qantas Taste Panel and has judged at wine shows in every major city in Australia.
Ms Cullen was the winner of the 2000 Qantas/The Wine Magazine Winemaker of the year. She was the third recipient of this prize, the first Western Australian and the first woman to win the award.
In 2008, she was awarded the UK Drinks Business Magazine “Woman of the Year 2008” and in 2011 the “Green Personality of the Year” for her commitment to the wine industry and for demonstrating that you can operate a successful business while looking after the environment.
In 2023, Ms Cullen was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to viticulture and oenology.
