The Lynn family have been residents of the Penola - Coonawarra district for more than four generations, starting as store-keepers and graduating into grazing.

The property on which Majella now stands was originally owned by Frank Lynn, and bought by his nephew, George, in 1960.

George and Pat Lynn kept Merino's for wool production on their farm about 10 miles away, and always wanted some good Coonawarra country for their up-and-coming prime lamb enterprise. Viticulture, however, wasn’t on the family's agenda until 1968 when their sons, Tony and Brian Lynn - third generation farmers - planted a vineyard.

Over the years, the family has continued planting new vineyards and now have about 60 hectares under vine.

And what happened to the sheep? They're still around with 1500 Merino wethers on the family's other farm south-west of Penola together with 2000 cross-bred ewes for prime lamb production.