Dan Eggleton of Ben Murray Wines in the Barossa is as true and unpretentious as the wines he makes. A third-generation grape grower and first-generation, self-taught winemaker, Dan began humbly, stacking boxes at Jacob’s Creek. From there, he progressed to working and travelling internationally in wine before establishing Ben Murray Wines in Tanunda with Craig Murray Thompson.

Ben Murray Wines are intentionally vegan-friendly, made with minimal intervention, and with a strong focus on sustainability in the winery. “We generate our own electricity, capture water, compost waste, and minimise landfill. Everything is recyclable or compostable. I’m trying to leave things better than I found them,” Dan says.

Dan is also a passionate advocate for his community, and someone with whom you can sit down for a cuppa and talk openly. Since September 2025, following another loss within his local grape-growing community, he has organised monthly mateship breakfasts on the last Friday of each month at Ben Murray Wines. Anyone from the industry, or those passionate about it, is welcome. Get in touch with Dan to find out more.

2023 Ben Murray Wines Grenache
95pts | $32

Beginning to show a brick hue in colour, ethereal and quite restrained on the nose. Initially slightly spirited, it unfolds beautifully into notes of macerated roses and cherries, bright red plums, and dry tamarind. The palate reveals more of the evolving nature of the fruit, though there is nevertheless plenty of substance here. The finish is rather intense, yet the alcohol never dominates. If anything, there is a discerning balance between the oak and the fruit profile, with the structure remaining firmly in check. A wine offering excellent quality-to-price balance. Drink: now- 2032

2023 Ben Murray Wines Marananga Grenache
94 pts | $65

Deep and serious in intensity on the nose, plunging you into an oceanic depth of wild red berries and exotic notes of carob, pomelo, ad oregano. The oak spice is rather prominent on the palate, slightly detracting from the expressiveness of the fruit. Surely still a pup, it needs time to integrate all its elements, and the structure feels somewhat unsettled at present. Nevertheless, the freshness provides an excellent counterpoint to the elevated natural alcohol content. Drink: now- 2036

2022 Ben Murray Wines Anima Reserve Grenache
95 pts | $125

There is a wealth of appealing sweet oak spice on the initial nose, before savoury, iron-like and bush tomato characters emerge promptly. Well-polished Morello cherries, wild cranberries, pomegranate, and blood orange sit alongside a persistent whole-bunch, nettle-like, brambly core. It keeps evolving in the glass, which creates a sense of intrigue, as just as one appears to grasp a specific aroma, it quickly shifts elsewhere. The palate is subdued yet seductive, with fruit quietly developing under a firm layer of oak, while the acidity is carried within the alcohol’s warmth. Slowly building, sandy tannins expand across the palate. It is a complete package, without being overly assertive or exaggerated. Drink: now- 2035

2023 Ben Murray Wines Shiraz
93 pts | $45

The colour stains the glass, showing a polished and luxurious mix of black and blue berries, with a tropical lift of ylang-ylang and Tahitian vanilla, alongside notes of milk chocolate and tart berry fruit. The tannins are thick yet supple, with a slightly restrained mid-palate beneath the polished oak, where the fruit remains somewhat in reserve. It is an exuberant wine in terms of structure, with the oak component still to fully settle and integrate. Drink: now- 2031

2023 Ben Murray Wines Marananga Shiraz
94 pts | $65

Now this is a showstopper on the nose: aromatic herbs, cooking spices, ironstone, and fresh wild blackberries and blueberries, with oak spice also present, though leaning more towards a bitter, savoury profile rather than sweet, showing dried and chocolatey tones. Aromatic tobacco and juniper berries are present as well. It is a full-bodied, robust wine, with firm, structured tannins and a savoury edge that is both attractive and integrated enough with the rest of the profile. Drink: now- 2036

2021 Ben Murray Wines Reserve Shiraz
95 pts | $225

There are considerable untapped complexity and depth here. From the first sniff, one can sense this is a wine going the extra mile, with the quality and structure for long-term bottle ageing. The fruit shows depth and definition, with fresh, wild blackberry character set against subdued oak spice, dark chocolate, and notes of juniper and clove. The tannins are decisively bitter yet of good quality, with a distinctly fruit-driven profile throughout. A Shiraz that is balanced and carries great length, with a gently warming alcohol presence that contributes to rather than disrupts the flow. Drink: now- 2041