Grace Madeline is one of those wines that captures the spirit of Cullen Wines particularly well: unmistakably Margaret River, deeply connected to its vineyard, and made with an approach that values texture, individuality and restraint over simple varietal expression.
Origins
The wine takes its name from Grace Madeline, the mother of Cullen matriarch Diana Madeline Cullen and grandmother of Vanya Cullen. Born in London in 1895, Grace later lived in Tasmania and was known as a suffragette and nature photographer. The name is therefore more than a tribute; it connects the wine to the family history and to a longstanding Cullen belief in independence, nature and following your own path.
The wine itself has an important place in Margaret River's story. Cullen first made its Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend from estate fruit in 1979, making it one of the earliest examples of this now defining regional style. The wine was renamed Grace Madeline in 2018, giving a family identity to a blend that had already become part of Cullen's winemaking heritage.
Winemaking
At its heart, Grace Madeline is a wine of old vines and careful, low intervention winemaking. The fruit comes exclusively from Cullen's Wilyabrup vineyard, where Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon vines were planted from 1976 onwards. The vines are grown on their own roots and are certified biodynamic and carbon neutral, with the vineyard's low yields helping to concentrate flavour and character.
The winemaking is deliberately individual. Fruit may receive skin contact to build phenolic texture and tension, while fermentation takes place using natural yeasts in a combination of vessels, including concrete eggs and barrels. In the 2024 vintage, the blend was 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon, with the Sauvignon Blanc spending around eight months in barriques, 63% of them new. The result is not a simple, overtly tropical Sauvignon Blanc. Oak, fermentation and skin contact add another dimension, creating a wine that is broader, more layered and considerably more age worthy.
Tasting
In the glass, Grace Madeline shows a light straw to deeper golden hue, with aromas of tropical fruit, peach, fig and florals intertwined with citrus and subtle mineral notes. The palate is where the wine really announces itself: bright acidity provides the backbone, while natural fruit weight, gentle phenolic grip and finely integrated oak create impressive texture. There is freshness, but also generosity; concentration, but without heaviness. The finish is long and detailed, leaving citrus, stone fruit and mineral characters lingering.
Awards and Accolades
Its reputation has grown accordingly. The 2024 Grace Madeline received 95 points from wine critic Ken Gargett, who praised its refinement, complexity and length, describing it as a superb example of the style. Earlier vintages have also attracted strong critical attention, reinforcing its position as Cullen's prestige Sauvignon Blanc Semillon rather than merely another white blend in the range.
What makes Grace Madeline particularly compelling is that it feels both traditional and forward-looking. The grape varieties have a long history in Margaret River, yet Cullen treats them with a freedom that produces something thoroughly contemporary. It is a wine that demonstrates how Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon can move well beyond crisp, early drinking whites and become serious, textural and cellar worthy wines.
| Wine Type | White wine |
| Producer | Cullen Wines |
| State | Western Australia |
| Region | Margaret River |
| Variety | Semillon Sauvignon Blanc |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Alcohol | 13% |
