25 Years of Jerome at Scarborough Wine Co.
Some careers feel destined from the very beginning and Jerome Scarborough’s story is one of these, beginning in his childhood in the Hunter Valley.
For Jerome, a life in wine was shaped early growing up on the original Tulloch Wines property in central Pokolbin. From the time he could comprehend what it was that his dad, Ian did, he wanted to also be a winemaker. Growing up on a working vineyard, next to a winery, cemented this aspiration. Watching Ian working in the winery and overseeing the vineyards he learnt that all great wine starts in the vineyard. With this understanding his desire to understand viticulture grew, and lead to his future studies.
This year, we celebrate 25 years of Jerome at Scarborough Wine Co., marking not just a career milestone, but a lifelong commitment to place, family, and the vineyards he knows so intimately.
Once Jerome finished school his attention turned to studying Oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia, but on realising (with more industry experience) that wines start in the vineyard Jerome switched to Viticulture and leaving Roseworthy with a Bachelor of Applied Science. It was also where he met his life partner, Liz Riley, who was also studying Viticulture. After graduation he headed out into the broader Australian wine industry, working for Southcorp Wines gaining valuable experience in viticulture roles across the country. In 1996 Jerome and Liz decided to move to the Hunter Valley when Jerome became the Vineyard Manager for the Lindeman’s, Tulloch and Hungerford Hill Hunter Valley’s operations. This gave Jerome the opportunity to work with some of the most iconic Hunter Valley vineyards, many that he had known all his life.
But Scarborough was always home.
Jerome returned to the family business as General Manager in late 2000, bringing with him a deeper understanding of vineyards, people, and process; something that was learned working in corporate agriculture and that would be invaluable to the running of Scarborough Wine Co. In 2005, he stepped into the role of Winemaker, a transition that felt both natural and earned. Since then, Jerome has worked across every part of the business, always with his feet firmly planted in the vineyard. In 2025 Jerome became the CEO of Scarborough Wine Co.
At the heart of Jerome’s approach is a simple belief:
“Everything starts in the vineyard. If you understand the land, the soil, and the season, the wine almost makes itself. My job is really just to listen and respond.”
It’s this vineyard first mindset that has shaped Scarborough’s wines over the past 25 years. Alongside his wife Liz, Jerome has ensured that sustainability is core to the vineyard operations with considered thinking driving decision making to ensure the vineyards and business are sustainable into the future. That commitment was recognised in 2022, when Jerome was awarded Viticulturist of the Year by Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association at the Hunter Valley Legends Awards. Working closely with Liz, in 2023 Scarborough Wine Co became a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. This was an extremely important step in the ongoing stewardship of the land that we farm here in the Hunter Valley.
Away from work, Jerome is a proud father to Callum and Hannah, a keen gardener, passionate foodie, treasurer of the local Hunter Valley Landcare Group, a volunteer member of the Rothbury Bushfire Brigade and a devoted supporter of the local Pokolbin Reds Rugby Team. These are the things that ground him, and they reflect what Scarborough Wine Co. stands for: family, community and balance.
After 25 years, Jerome’s influence can be felt in every vineyard row and in every bottle that carries the Scarborough name. His journey is one of patience, care and continuity; values passed down from Ian and Merralea and now embedded deeply in the future of the business.
Here’s to 25 years of dedication, quiet leadership and an enduring love for the land. And to many more vintages still to come.
