Rockford

Robert O'Callaghan founded Rockford in 1984, although the project began in 1971 when he purchased a property on Krondorf Road in Tanunda. Before establishing the winery, O'Callaghan worked as a trainee at Seppelt in Rutherglen and later managed grower relationships for other Barossa producers. He constructed the winery buildings himself using salvaged stone and recycled materials to match the architecture of the 1850s cottage already on the land. The estate remains under the ownership and management of the O'Callaghan family, with Ben Radford holding the position of managing director and head winemaker.

The winery relies on a network of approximately 30 independent growers who maintain vineyards across the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. These sites include sub-districts such as Kalimna, Moppa Springs, and Ebenezer, where many vines are dry grown and exceed 100 years in age. Winemaking is defined by the use of manual techniques and vintage equipment that O'Callaghan salvaged as other wineries modernized. This collection includes a 1930s Bagshaw crusher, an 1880s petrol-driven destemmer, and open-topped slate and concrete fermenters. Red wines are moved through the winery by hand and pressed in large wooden basket presses before aging in seasoned French and American oak hogsheads.

The Basket Press Shiraz is the flagship release and serves as a definitive example of the traditional Barossa style. Another notable wine is the Black Shiraz, a sparkling red wine made from base wines held in a solera system and finished using the traditional method. The portfolio also includes the Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon and a fresh red made from the Alicante Bouchet variety. The winery maintains a loyal following by distributing the majority of its production through a private mailing list and its own cellar door in Tanunda. This model avoids most retail channels and relies on the long-term relationships established between the producer and its customers.