In the 1970s humble Italian grape grower Primo Grilli invested all he had in a vineyard and small, state-of-the-art winery. Handing the keys to his son Joe in 1979, Primo Estate was born. Today Joe's children Daniel, Matteo and Elena are part of the business.

Primo Estate's original vineyard is on the Adelaide Plains, cooled by sea breezes from the nearby Gulf St Vincent. Their Clarendon vineyard is further south. Their McLaren Vale vineyard, home to their cellar door, overlooks the Willunga escarpment. At Primo Estate they combine modern Australian know-how and traditional Italian winemaking, believing the combination to be superior to that of either method separately.

Notables in Primo Estate's Joseph selection include the Angel Gully Shiraz, Moda Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and Sparkling Red. The Zamberlan Cabernet Sangiovese stands out among the core range.