Natillie Johnston, also known as Tillie J, is a viticulturist and winemaker from the Yarra Valley Australia.
Tillie has been a recipient of the prestigious Top 50 Young Gun of Wine Awards for four consecutive years, with the added honor of winning the People's Choice Award in 2023.
Her journey into the world of wine began while working for cellar doors in the Yarra Valley, where she earned money to support her studies in Sports Science. Upon completing her degree, she found herself irresistibly drawn into the wine industry.
In 2012 Tillie completed her first harvest, working in the lab at Coldstream Hills Wines, an iconic establishment founded by James Halliday in 1985. This experience ignited her passion for the culture of the wine industry. Subsequently she pursued postgraduate studies in winemaking and viticulture at the University of Melbourne and embarked on a journey to work in various regions across Australia and abroad.
Her professional odyssey has taken Tillie to work in esteemed wineries such as Yarra Yering in the Yarra Valley, Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River, Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley, Cristom and Ponzi in Willamette Valley, Keller in Rheinhessen, Cedar Creek in Okanagan Valley, and Yealands and Framingham in Marlborough. Throughout her travels, Tillie has had the privilege of collaborating with remarkable winemakers who have now become cherished friends.
Tillie's dream of returning to her roots in the Yarra Valley to establish her own wine label became a reality when she was accepted into the inaugural “2019 Young Winemakers” program at No.7 Healesville. There, she produced her own wine and wine label, Tillie J Wines, including the acclaimed 2019 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, which received a rating of 95 in the 2020 Wine Companion. This endeavour marked the inception of Tillie J Wines, now gaining recognition in an increasing number of wine stores and fine-dining establishments around Australia.
Achieving incredible recognition from her peers, professional wine reviews and acclaimed industry publications, Tillie is known as an incredibly talented viticulturist, winemaker and powerful voice in the industry.
Her objective is to craft wines that authentically reflect their terroir and can be enjoyed either in their youth or after maturation. Natillie expresses her gratitude to all who have supported her wine project and invites them to join her on this fulfilling journey. Happy days await those who share in the enjoyment of Tillie J Wines!