Trial vines were planted on one acre of land by Diana and Kevin Cullen on a Wilyabrup property in 1966 after having read advice and received encouragement from Dr John Gladstones, who believed the Margaret River was ideal for planting vines due to a similarity he saw with the climate and soils of Bordeaux.

[1][2][3] The trials were promising, and 17 acres of vineyards were planted, this time on their own property, in 1971, with the business founded under the name "Wilyabrup Wines".

[8][9] Diana Cullen was inducted as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2000 for "service to the development of viticulture and the wine industry".

[9] Vanya Cullen, the daughter of Diana and Kevin, took over the wine making role in 1989[9][11] after graduating from Roseworthy College with an Oenology degree in 1986,[5][12] and is the current managing director and senior winemaker.

[13][22] Vanya Cullen is on the board of the "Days of Change" program, which aims to help Western Australian people and businesses live and operate in a more sustainable way.