FROM A DREAM TO POMONAL ESTATE
By Adam & Pep Atchison

When you arrive at Pomonal Estate, you may see the vines, the mountains, the beautiful accommodation, the wine, the food and the warm country welcome.
What you don’t always see is the journey behind it.
The early mornings, the long days, the challenges, the sacrifices, the family support and the incredible people who have helped us create the place we are so proud to share with you.
For us, Pomonal Estate has never just been a business.
It is our home, our family story and a reflection of our love for the Grampians and the community that has supported us for more than two decades.

Our Journey Began in Pomonal

Adam and I have called Pomonal home since 2001.
From the moment we arrived, we fell in love with this beautiful part of Victoria. The breathtaking Grampians landscape, the peaceful lifestyle, the abundance of wildlife and, most importantly, the welcoming people of this community made us realise we had found somewhere truly special.
Pomonal became more than just a place we lived.
It became where we built our life.
It was here that we started our family, raising our two beautiful daughters and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Four years ago, our family grew again when we welcomed and adopted another young daughter, making our family complete.
Our girls have grown up alongside Pomonal Estate and have been part of the journey from the very beginning.
Over the years, they have worked within the business, helping wherever they were needed and experiencing firsthand what it takes to build and run a family-owned regional tourism business.
They have learnt the importance of showing up, working hard, supporting each other and taking pride in what they do.
Watching our girls grow into young women with strong values, resilience and a wonderful work ethic has been one of our greatest rewards.
Building Pomonal Estate has always been about creating something meaningful—not only for ourselves, but for our family and future generations.

The Dream of Creating Our Own Winery

Although we loved living in Pomonal, we always dreamed of creating a winery of our own.
In 2014, we decided it was time to explore how we could turn that dream into reality.
We travelled throughout Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, looking at more than 23 wineries, hospitality venues and tourism businesses.
We wanted to learn from others, understand the industry and find inspiration for the type of experience we wanted to create.
While we saw many wonderful opportunities, every time we travelled away, we found ourselves wanting to return home.
The answer became clear.
We didn’t want to leave Pomonal.
We wanted to create something here.
We wanted to build our own story.

The Conversation That Changed Everything

Sometimes the biggest decisions in life come from the simplest conversations.
One of those moments came through a conversation with Nadya from the Pomonal General Store.
Nadya showed us the new planning zones within Pomonal and explained how land that had traditionally been used for farming could now support rural living and tourism development.
That conversation opened our eyes to the possibility that our dream didn’t have to happen somewhere else.
It could happen right here.
Instead of purchasing an existing winery, we made the decision to transform our own land and build Pomonal Estate from the ground up.
Looking back, that conversation was a defining moment in our journey. Nadya helped us see the opportunity that was right in front of us.

The Family Support Behind the Dream

Every dream needs support, and ours was no different.
When we decided to take the leap and build Pomonal Estate, we were incredibly fortunate to have the support of Adam’s Mum and stepdad.
They believed in us and believed in our vision. They wanted to help set their children up with opportunities to create their own futures through small business.
Their support gave us the confidence to take that chance and begin building something that would become such an important part of our lives.
Starting a winery from scratch was a huge undertaking, and knowing we had family standing beside us made all the difference.
We will always be grateful for the belief they had in us and the role they played in helping bring our dream to life.

Building Pomonal Estate

When we began, there was no winery.
No cellar door.
No accommodation.
No established vineyard.
There was simply a dream, a piece of land and a belief that we could create something special.
We planted our vines knowing it would take years before we could share the wines we imagined producing. Season by season, we watched them grow and learnt the importance of patience, care and dedication.
Every fence post, every tree planted, every building project, every early morning and every late night became part of the Pomonal Estate story.
On 20 December 2017, our dream became a reality when Pomonal Estate officially opened its doors.
Standing together on that day and welcoming our first guests remains one of the proudest moments of our lives.
Today, Pomonal Estate has grown into a destination celebrating the best of the Grampians—our vineyard, wines, handcrafted beers and ciders, luxury accommodation, local produce and unforgettable experiences.

More Than Just a Winery

From the beginning, we never wanted Pomonal Estate to simply be a winery.
We wanted to create a place where people could slow down, reconnect with nature, enjoy beautiful food and wine, celebrate special occasions and experience the magic of the Grampians.
Our vineyard has matured, producing wines that reflect the character of our land.
Adam’s passion for brewing has expanded our offering with handcrafted beers and ciders.
Our accommodation allows guests to stay longer, unwind and experience the beauty of the region at their own pace.
The addition of IRIS Restaurant & Wine Bar, owned by Executive Chef Dean Sibthorp and the Block & Cleaver team, has added another exciting chapter to our story, bringing together exceptional food, wine, hospitality and the natural beauty of the Grampians.

Supporting Our Community

One of our greatest achievements is not just what we have built, but the people who have been part of the journey.
Over the years, Pomonal Estate has provided employment opportunities for more than 40 local people, helping create jobs, develop skills and support families within our regional community.
Our team has become an extension of our family.
From hospitality and cellar door to accommodation, vineyard work, events and behind-the-scenes operations, every person who has worked with us has contributed something special to Pomonal Estate.
Supporting local employment and creating opportunities for people to grow is something we are incredibly proud of.

Recognising the Journey

Over the years, we have been fortunate to receive recognition through a number of awards and achievements.
We were honoured to be named Business of the Year (Ararat Rural City Council) three times, along with receiving various hospitality, tourism, wine and sustainability awards.
We were also incredibly proud to be recognised as a Finalist in the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) Awards 2025.
While these achievements are wonderful milestones, the greatest reward has always been seeing guests create memories here, watching our team grow and knowing we have built something meaningful in the community we love.

Looking Ahead

While we are incredibly proud of how far Pomonal Estate has come, we believe our journey is far from over.
Our dream has never been about becoming the biggest.
It has always been about creating something meaningful.
We want to continue strengthening Pomonal Estate as a place where people can escape the everyday, reconnect with nature, enjoy exceptional food and wine and create memories that last a lifetime.
We will continue caring for our vineyard, supporting local producers and businesses, creating employment opportunities, improving our sustainability practices and sharing the beauty of the Grampians with visitors from near and far.
Most importantly, we want to continue building something our family, our community and future generations can be proud of.

Thank You

When we began this journey in 2014, we could never have imagined where it would lead.
What started as a dream has become so much more.
Pomonal Estate is now filled with stories, friendships, celebrations and memories.
To everyone who has visited, stayed with us, enjoyed our wines, shared a meal, supported us through challenges or simply stopped by to say hello – thank you.

You have all become part of our story.
We are incredibly grateful to call Pomonal home, and we look forward to welcoming you to Pomonal Estate and continuing this journey together.
With gratitude,

Adam & Pep Atchison
Owners, Pomonal Estate