The winery, adjoining the new Fordwich vineyard, was purchased in 1996 and occupies the site of the former Saxonvale Winery which lay dormant for a number of years. Renamed the Hill of Hope, after years of standing as en empty shell, the winery once again became operational after having been refitted for his first vintage of Hope Estate in 1997. Taking a giant leap forward Michael acquired the Kyneton based Virgin Hills wine business in Victoria and the 45 acre Donnybrook vineyard in Western Australia in 2000. All wine from these interstate vineyards being bottled, warehoused and distributed from his Hunter headquarters at Broke. Since then he’s built one of the Hunter’s most successful family owned wineries. Based in Broke for the last decade, Michael’s wines are perhaps better known overseas than in Australia. When a coal mine decided to mine under this Broke winery, Michael knew it was time to fulfil a long term dream and move to the heart of Pokolbin. In 2006 his purchase of the Rothbury Estate property meant this flagship Hunter winery was finally back in family hands. The Hunter Valley winery rose to fame through the efforts of the late wine legends Len Evans and Murray Tyrrell. This 240 acre winery is a Hunter icon and has symbolised the best of the Hunter – world class wines, industry best production facilities, enviable tasting rooms and staff with a deep love and knowledge of wine. Michael and his team were very excited to move into what has become their new home in September 2006. The Great Cask Hall at Hope Estate is one of the most impressive Barrel Room’s in the country and one of the Hunter Valley’s most popular function venues. Part of the working winery, the Great Cask Hall is surrounded by 59 enormous wine filled casks (4,500 litres in each).