Women in WineS O U T H A U S T R A L I A N

I note that more than half of the Australian wine delegation to London for the Women in Wine Awards are from South Australia! This a true testament to the skills and ability of OUR women in wine.

South Australia boasts a diverse and premium wine culture. Women are involved across all of its interfaces and make a profound contribution, ensuring South Australian winemaking continues to evolve, grow and prosper.

PETER GAGO AC

South Australia's Great Wine Capitals Global Ambassador

ForewordSouth Australia produces 80 per cent of Australia’s premium wine, from some of the oldest vines in the world and the United Kingdom continues to be one of our top export markets.

The Australian Women in Wine Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the contribution and achievements of women in this sector and acknowledge the important role they play within our wine community.

I’m delighted to see more than 50 per cent of Australia’s delegation visiting the United Kingdom for these awards are from South Australia. Our passionate and innovative women in wine play a significant role in growing our reputation as the wine state of Australia.

Adelaide’s membership of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network supports our winegrowers. Joining this network has been an important development for South Australia’s wine sector – raising awareness of our premium wines and putting a spotlight on our wine tourism experiences. We are honoured to sit alongside network members, which include internationally renowned wine regions such as Napa Valley, Porto and Bordeaux.

The South Australia Government is proud to support South Australia’s women in wine to help grow the capacity of the industry and continue to promote the state’s rich wine culture, provenance and innovation.

I encourage you to read through the profiles of the amazing women attending this year’s awards to find out more about their stories and the incredible contribution they make to our wine sector.

LEON BIGNELL

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries | Minister for Tourism

Bill MuirheadAGENT GENERAL

Renowned adman and passionate South Australian, Bill Muirhead AM is South Australia’s 25th Agent General.

He was appointed Agent General for South Australia by then Premier Mike Rann, in April 2007. His appointment was extended by Premier Jay Weatherill in 2015.

Bill completed his education at the Institute of Marketing in London, where he then stayed to begin his career in advertising with Ogilvy & Mather.

Bill joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 1972. He worked on campaignsfor British Airways, Qantas, The Conservative Party, Toyota, BP and News International.

In 1993, he moved to New York as Chief Executive of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide.

In 1995 he became a Founding Partner of M&C Saatchi, together with David Kershaw, Maurice Saatchi and Jeremy Sinclair and was responsible for establishing the company’s 27 overseas offices.

In 2013, Bill became a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for significant service to the community of South Australia through the promotion of international trade.

There’s no better way to introduce people to the State than over a glass of South Australian fine wine.

South Australia has firmly cemented its position as a “Great Wine Capital of the World”. This great accolade recognises our brilliant wine country and its versatility.

I’m proud that so many established and exciting wineries have been put forward for the Australian Women in Wine Awards. From the world-renowned Yalumba Viognier blend by Louisa Rose to one of my wife Jeanne’s favourite Australian white ‘Princess Fiano’ by Rachel Atkin’s Fox Gordon – there are so many incredible women producing incredible wines and I’m pleased to support them on an international platform.

Sarah AhmedWINE WRITER

Sarah Ahmed is a UK based freelance wine writer and will be hosting a Q&A with the South Australian women in wine. Sarah is also a wine educator focused on the wines of Australia and Portugal. In addition to publishing www.thewinedetectivwe.co.uk, she is a regular contributor for Decanter and writes for other respected titles such as The World of Fine Wine.

She has contributed to leading reference books in her areas of expertise, including The World Atlas of Wine, The Oxford Companion to Wine & Hugh Johnson Pocket Wine. Sarah is guest international judge at The Limestone Coast Wine Show 2017; it will be her fifth time judging at an Australian wine show.

Q&AWomen in WineW I T H S O U T H A U S T R A L I A N

Liz AdamsKILLIBINBIN

Liz Adams is the co-owner and General Manager at Brothers in Arms and Killibinbin producing estate grown and made wines in Langhorne Creek, South Australia.

Originally a Preschool educator, Liz fell into the industry after taking a Director’s role at the local kindergarten in 1991 and she moved into the Metala Homestead as a boarder with her now husband, fifth generation grape grower, Guy. Over time her involvement in the vineyards and then the wine side of the business has naturally evolved.

These days her roles include production, packaging, warehouse, logistics and marketing - every day throws a new challenge to keeps things interesting.

WINERYThe Adams family celebrate over 126 years and five Generations of wine growing tradition in their Metala Vineyards, which sit comfortably alongside current and innovative wine making practices in the state of the art winery.

The Killibinbin brand was established in 1997 and for many years the original owners sourced their fruit from the Metala Vineyards. When they decided the time had come to leave the industry in 2009 it seemed like a natural fit for Liz and Guy’s Brothers in Arms business to take the brand over.

All the fruit for Killibinbin still comes from the Metala Vineyards giving Liz and Guy full control from the soil to the bottle which is a source of great pride.

Jodie ArmstrongSEW AND SEW

Jodie runs a viticultural consultancy; managing vineyards and advising grape-growers on best practice. It is in this role that she grows the high-quality grapes that are used when she turns her attention to Sew & Sew; a hand-crafted mission to create greatness the glass.

Jodie has worked in numerous wine regions across the world and is always particular about the style she wants to deliver. Each Sew & Sew wine is a unique expression of its variety.

Fruit and flavour are paramount in her wines.

A true artist at heart, Jodie’s also a keen sewer. Her ability to visualise a project and treat it with infinite detail from conception to finish is a skill she uses in producing Sew & Sews elegant wines.

WINERYSew & Sew plants the vines, grows the grapes and makse the wines – gently nurturing the very first bud to the bottled wine. Sew & Sew is a partnership between friends who strive to create beautiful hand-crafted products made with passion.

Sew and Sew is built on a belief that vineyards create their own patterns; whether it be from sun, water, soil structure or insect behaviour. Predicting and embracing these patterns allows for the creation of high-quality balanced fruit. Thinking about the bigger picture helps deliver memorable wines.

Rachel AtkinsFOX GORDON WINES

Rachel Atkins is one of the founders and the driving force behind Fox Gordon, a family run winery specialising in ultra-premium wine from the Adelaide Hills.

Her role as Marketing and Communications Director across the three core family wine companies she owns with husband Sam (Fox Gordon, Atkins Farm and Anniversary Hill), has allowed Rachel’s passion for innovative marketing to shine.

Marrying wine and fashion synergy has catapulted Fox Gordon into the booming fashion industry both in Australia and internationally, where Rachel saw an opening to supply a niche range of wines to fashion related events and partnerships.

She recently launched a new concept called ‘Rose Garden Florist’ at Fox Gordon’s city cellar door.

WINERYFox Gordon is a forward thinking South Australian family of wine.

A premium wine brand, Fox Gordon wines are made from family owned vineyards and select growers in the Adelaide Hills. The wines in our collection have become sought after and desirable due their opulent nature, reliability and classy packaging.

Quality wine is at the core of our lives. Every bottle of Fox Gordon bears our family name, so our reputation resides in every drop of wine we make. This ensures we always strive to produce good quality, well-priced wines past and future generations can take great pride in.

Emmanuele BekkersBEKKERS

Inspired by the wines of Bandol in Southern France, Emmanuele undertook degrees in Biochemistry and Oenology at the University of Montpellier.

She was working for BRL Hardy in the south of France when the opportunity came to work vintage in McLaren Vale.

It also led to love, family and the establishment with her viticulturist husband Toby, of the Bekkers wine brand in 2010.

But France hasn’t been left behind for good. Each year Emmanuelle travels to her homeland for vintage and produces a Premier Cru Chablis to be released alongside the McLaren Vale offerings under the Bekkers label.

WINERYThe Bekkers wines combine a wealth of international experience with an exceptionally deep understanding of McLaren Vale.

The winemaking begins with exceptional attention to detail in the vineyard. It is a showcase for Toby’s viticultural abilities and a philosophy of farming which views the vineyard through a prism of ecology, not chemistry. This philosophy extends equally to the cellar where Emmanuelle’s precision is the perfect foil to Toby’s unfettered, open-minded approach to winemaking.

Patience and gentle practices bring to life wines that not only possess the generosity for which McLaren Vale is renowned, but more importantly display refined texture, fragrance and a sense of restraint.

Melissa BrownGEMTREE WINES

Melissa Brown may have followed her grandfather and father into a life spent in vineyards, but she’s very much forging her own path through them.

Ten years ago Melissa took on the greatest challenge of her career.

At home she was making the conscious decision to grow as much of her own food as possible and buy organic products but at work she was regularly spraying the vineyard with herbicides and pesticides. It just didn’t make sense.

She began converting the Gemtree vineyards to organic and biodynamic practices and now, a decade of hard work later, Gemtree has the largest biodynamically farmed vineyard holdings in Australia.

WINERYPaul and Jill Buttery established the Gemtree vineyards in McLaren Vale in 1980 and today their daughter Melissa is the Viticulturist and her husband, Mike Brown, the Chief Winemaker and Managing Director. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic, a testament to their commitment to sustainable farming and winemaking. The Gemtree philosophy is simple – a more environmentally conscious farming system and minimal intervention in the winemaking process to produce wines with finesse that express the true characteristics of each grape variety and the region.

It’s all about farming for a better future.

Kathy DrogemullerPARACOMBE PREMIUM WINES

Kathy Drogemuller is Owner and Co-Founder of Paracombe Wines, an award winning, family owned vineyard and winery in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. With 34 years experience in the wine industry, she is a passionate storyteller, using her vision and energy to market her wines throughout Australia and the world.

Kathy and her husband Paul bought a burnt out old dairy farm in 1983 and planted a vineyard and then launched Paracombe Wines in 1992. Kathy was eight months pregnant with their second child at the time, just for that little extra degree of difficulty.

Kathy is responsible for Paracombe wine sales - domestic and export, marketing, business management and public relations.

WINERYPassion, an inspirational story, family and beautiful wine made with emphasis on a soft footprint on the environment embodies Paracombe Wines. Set high on a plateau at Paracombe in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, the winery produces quality, low-yield premium wines sourced from the family vineyards and specialist local growers with a commitment to low yields, minimal irrigation and hand pruning

With no background or experience in grape growing or winemaking Kathy and Paul Drogemuller started making wine in a tin shed with a homemade basket press, secondhand milk tanks and crusher. Today second generation son Ben works in the business and Paracombe Wines are sold throughout the world.

Fanchon Ferrandi AZUR ESTATE

With a childhood split between southern France and the Mediterranean island of Corsica, Fanchon Ferrandi has enjoyed good food, great wine and a laid-back lifestyle since her earliest days. Feeling very much at home among the olive groves, sea-blue vistas and Mediterranean climate of McLaren Vale, Fanchon sees the Fleurieu Peninsula as perfectly encapsulating the art of winemaking.

Having gained a Degree in Biochemistry, Graduate Diploma in Oenology and an MBA in Wines and Spirits, Fanchon worked as Chief Winemaker for Tatachilla Wines, as well as vintages in Chile, California, Spain & France before embarking on her own project in the ancient soils and unique maritime climate of McLaren Vale.

WINERYAzur - From Old French asur. Meaning ‘bright blue in colour like a cloudless sky.’

The Mclaren Vale’s similarity to the climate and spirit of France’s Côte d’Azur in Nice has inspired the name and the style of the wines. “Savoir-Vivre” is a way of life in Nice, Fanchon’s birthplace, as it is in sun-drenched McLaren Vale.

Azur Estate is planted on black cracking clay and receives gully winds from the Hills and cooling Sea breezes from the East, making it a very reliable microclimate to grow grapes with very little disease pressure, allowing us to be light handed with our viticulture practice and implement sustainable winegrowing techniques.

Sandrine GimonRYMILL

Sandrine Gimon was born in Ardèche but grew up in the French Alps at Chambéry.

Her winemaking career began when she was one of only 24 students selected for the school of winemaking at the University of Sciences in Reims. She completed an internship at Veuve Clicquot as part of her degree and upon graduation she began work as a winemaking consultant in Bordeaux.

A hunger for varied and diverse experience saw Sandrine work harvests in Pomerol, Languedoc-Rousillon, Romania and the Swan Valley before arriving in Coonawarra in 2005. She has been Senior Winemaker at Rymill since 2008 and has made her home in Penola with husband Jordan and their two boys Raphael and Marius.

WINERY Rymill Coonawarra was established in the 1970’s by Peter Rymill, son of polar explorer John Riddoch Rymill and great grandson of the region’s founder John Riddoch.

Rymill continues to draw on the inspiration of these pioneering spirits by employing innovative winemaking and sustainable vineyard practices to produce high quality wines that clearly reflect the special place from which they come.

Liz HeidenreichSEVENHILL

Liz Heidenreich trained as a registered nurse and worked in Intensive Care for a number of years before returning to University and studying Oenology, inspired by spending time in family vineyards in the Barossa Valley planted by her grandfather. After graduating, Liz worked vintages at Wirra Wirra, Wolf Blass and four vintages in Portugal, including working for Sir Cliff Richard in his winery in the Algarve.

In 2005 Liz joined Sevenhill Cellars, the first female winemaker since 1851 after seven Jesuit Brother Winemakers, taking over from Brother John May. Liz is currently senior winemaker at Sevenhill Cellars producing outstanding riesling, shiraz and cabernet as well as barbera, grenache and touriga, and a large range of fortified wines including sacramental wine.

WINERYSevenhill was established in 1851 when the Jesuit priests planted vines to produce sacramental wine. The Jesuits' focus on wine has remained to this day, with Sevenhill adding to its sacramental wine production an extensive range of highly regarded table wines.

Sevenhill's reputation reflects a commitment to the creation of distinguished wines that express the authentic styles and flavours of the Clare Valley. Integral to this philosophy are our modern winemaking skills and highly prized old vineyards.

As the only remaining Jesuit-owned winery in Australia, residing Jesuits are actively involved in Sevenhill's ongoing development in partnership with lay staff who share the ethos of building the Jesuit Mission to support works of charity and compassion throughout Australia.

Prue Henschke HENSCHKE

Prue Henschke is a director of the 149 year old Henschke family winery located in the Eden Valley wine region, and its viticulturist. She manages 105ha of vineyard extending from two sites, one with some of the oldest vines in South Australia, near the Henschke winery at Keyneton, to the Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.

She has been a pioneer in restructuring her vineyards with new trellis types and better soil management using permanent swards, green waste compost and mulches, which has led to the adoption of organic and biodynamic practices. Prue has used her university studies in Botany and Zoology to bring back the native flora into the vineyard by planting native grass swards and nectar-providing plants for beneficial insects.

WINERYThe Henschke family has been making wine since Johann Christian Henschke planted his first vineyard in the Barossa’s Eden Valley in the early 1860s. Today, Fifth Generation winemaker Stephen and his viticulturist wife Prue are recognised around the world for their exceptional quality wines, innovation and sustainability in the vineyard.

They handcraft their wines with a focus on purity, site selection and sustainable, hands-on vineyard management. A strong sense of place, complemented by traditional winemaking, positively influences the long-ageing potential of their unique wines.

Stephen and Prue have recently welcomed sixth-generation family members Johann and Justine to the family business and are mindful of their role as custodians of the estate and their need to nurture it for future generations.

Sue HodderWYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE

Sue Hodder has just completed her 25th vintage at Wynns Coonawarra Estate and for 19 of those vintages, has worked together with winemaker, Sarah Pidgeon. In 2016, Sue and Sarah were jointly awarded the Winemaker of the Year award by the Australian Society of Oenology and Viticulture for “Developing Cabernet for the future”. Sue is on the committee of the Coonawarra Vignerons Association. She travels the world both promoting Australian wine and staying updated on the latest wine styles. In 2010 Sue was jointly awarded the Gourmet Traveller, Wine - Winemaker of the Year with viticulturist Allen Jenkins. She has judged extensively – both in Australia and in other countries.

WINERYWynns Coonawarra Estate is the oldest winery in the heart of the renown Terra Rossa soil of Coonawarra. John Riddoch , the regions founder built the iconic Gables winery, now represented on the Wynns label, in 1896. His vision is acknowledged in the pinnacle of Wynns wines, the John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon , which has achieved an Exceptional classification in the Langtons Classification of Australian wine. Wynns is known for making elegant yet ageworthy red wines from their own vineyards.

Judy KellyARTWINE

Docking several times a week in France while working on the Cross Channel Ferry, ignited a passion for wine in a young Judy Kelly. After building a successful international career in sales and marketing the time came to indulge that long-held passion with greater intent so in 1997 vineyards were purchased and 2008 Judy and her husband Glen established the Artwine label.

Artwine reflects their shared love of ‘alternative varieties’ and seeks to produce interesting and exotic wines that work beautifully with food.

WINERYWith 15 varieties planted across 25 hectares of vineyard in the Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills, Artwine is one of Australia’s largest growers of alternative varieties.

This diverse varietal mix is driven by a firm belief that Australia’s winemaking future lies in lighter-framed, food friendly styles that interact seamlessly with food.

Judy manages Artwine’s sales and marketing, runs their hugely successful Adelaide Hills cellar door and works closely with husband Glen on vineyard management and stylistic direction of the wines.

Artwine has pioneered several new wine styles in Australia, producing the first prosecco grown in the Adelaide Hills, one of the earliest examples of varietal graciano and will soon release the region’s first albariño.

Rose KentishROSE KENTISH WINES

Rose Kentish is so driven by a passion for flavour one vintage a year is not enough. In addition to making wine from the family property in McLaren Vale, something she’s done for almost twenty years, she also travels to France each year to make wine in Provence and Corsica.

Two harvests a year, tiny parcels of fruit, wines shaped into beautiful expressions of terroir and fruit quality.

WINERYRose has made wine from the family vineyard in McLaren Vale, and select small growers with similar fastidiousness for fruit quality, since 2001.

She received the prestigious ‘Bushing Queen’ trophy for McLaren Vale’s winemaker of the year in 2008, was a finalist in Gourmet Traveller Wine’s Winemaker of the Year in 2014 and the inaugural winner of Australian Women in Wine Awards Winemaker of the Year in 2015.

Kim LongbottomHENRY’S DRIVE

Kim Longbottom hails from Marlborough in New Zealand and has winemaking in her blood. Her late husband, Mark was a third generation pastoralist with a natural affinity for the land. They shared a passion for viticulture and winemaking - a passion that is central to the business. In 1992, Kim and Mark carefully selected sections of their properties for vine planting. Six years later, a dream was realised with the release of their first wines, coinciding with the birth of their daughter, Margo.

Mark passed away in 2008. A loyal and honest man with a wry sense of humour, Kim and Margo’s loss was felt far outside his beloved Padthaway. Today, Kim continues to build the business inspired by his memory.

WINERY Named after the proprietor of the 19th century mail coach service that once ran through their property, Henry’s Drive is the wine operation established by Kim Longbottom and her late husband Mark, dedicating to crafting fine wines from Padthaway. During the nineteenth century establishment of the farming and wine industries of the region, only horse drawn coaches provided the transit of mail and passengers. The coach service proprietor in this part of the state was Henry John Hill. His operation drove directly through a property, owned more recently by the Longbottom family. Today, Kim continues to build the business in honour of Mark, with brands such as Henry’s Drive, The Postmistress, The Scarlet Letter and Pillar Box.

Louise MackAPHELION WINE

Louise Mack grew up riding bikes and horses through the bush fringed suburbs north of Sydney, so its not surprising her first encounters with wine were on family trips to the nearby Hunter Valley.

Those trips must have been formative because after a successful career as a corporate sustainability professional in the grocery and liquor sector, she made the move across to the production side of the wine business and runs Aphelion Wine with winemaker husband Rob.

Louise walks her talk, supporting an ethical, sustainable business and lifestyle in the beautifully abundant McLaren Vale.

WINERYRob and Louise Mack established Aphelion Wine in 2014 and very quickly established a reputation for exciting wines perfectly matched to the Australian lifestyle. Small batch wines, guided by a minimalist hand, that seek to express the nature of the varieties used, the place they were grown and the role they play at the table.

Alexandra MaurissetVANGUARDIST WINES

In 2014 Alexandra created Vanguardist Wines with husband Edouard Maurisset Latour and winemaker Michael Corbett and she currently manages Marketing and Export Sales for the business.

Alexandra has a strong background in hospitality gained from travel, study and work. After completing a Bachelor of Business in Tourism & Hotel Management from Macquarie University, she worked as a Sommelier & Restaurant Manager in Australia and the UK.

She has also worked vintages in Australia, South Africa and it was while harvesting in New Zealand she met her husband. The two moved to Bordeaux, France where she became the Communications & D2C Manager for JCP Maltus Wines.

WINERYVanguardist Wines is a small batch producer based in Clare Valley making small amounts of riesling from the Clare Valley, grenache from McLaren Vale and semillon from the Adelaide Hills.

Vanguardist is at its heart, a collaborative project between three friends, each from varying walks of life, however with the love for the same style of wines. The trio adore wines that add something special to many cuisines and compliment the types of food that they all really enjoy.

The wines see minimal intervention, wild fermentation, no fining or filtration, and are handled with integrity and with the occasional avant-garde flair.

Emma NorbiatorCALABRIA FAMILY WINES

Emma Norbiato was raised on a sheep and rice farm in the Riverina and graduated with a winemaking degree from Charles Sturt University, where she received the highest marks for sensory evaluation in her year.

While studying, Emma completed vintages at Mountadam and Cranswick Estate, finally commencing an assistant winemaker role with Lindemans in 2001.

After a vintage in Tuscany, Emma returned to Australia and spent 4 years at Penfolds in the red winemaking team.

Following this, at age 26, Emma took up a Senior Winemaking role with Casella, notably producing Yellow Tail.

Emma is now making wine for Calabria Family Wines where here outstanding wines, especially alternative varieties saw her awarded AWIWA’s Female Winemaker of the Year in 2016.

WINERYCalabria Family Wines was born in the Riverina region of New South Wales.

The winery was founded by Italian migrants- Francesco and Elisabetta Calabria in 1945.

At the age of 14 their youngest son, Bill Calabria entered the family business and through sheer hard work and determination has survived more than 50 years of highs and lows in the industry.

Today, Bill and his 4 children have grown the business to 80 hectares of vineyard in the Barossa Valley, 2 processing facilities in the Riverina and a 30000 tonne crush in 2017, exporting to 44 countries over the world.

Emma Raidis RAIDIS ESTATE

Emma Raidis had a wide and varied working life before she fell in love with the man who drew her into his Coonawarra vineyard.

Hospitality, travel, sales and finance, Emma had done them all but it was when she started helping a guy she was dating in his family vineyard her life took a whole new direction.

She thought it was simply a chance to spend more time together but it eventually led to marriage, kids and a life lived by the seasonal cycles of vineyards.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

WINERYEmma and Stephen Raidis started their wine label in 2009, sourcing fruit from the vineyards Stephen and his parents planted in Coonawarra’s famed terra rossa soil in 1990.

The Raidis Estate wines reflect a respect for tradition and a willingness to move in new directions and feature regional classics such as cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and merlot alongside riesling, sauvignon blanc and pinot gris.

But Raidis Estate is more than just what ends up in the bottle. It’s an expression of the abundant hospitality that defines the Raidis family’s Greek heritage, the idea that the good things in life are made that way because they’re shared.

And it’s a shining example of what makes Coonawarra special, a connection to the land and the community that works it.

Rebekah RichardsonIRVINE WINES

Rebekah Richardson plied her trade in very senior roles within some of the biggest winemaking businesses in the world for many years before deciding one day it was time to get small.

She wanted to reconnect to what had drawn her to winemaking in the first place, to be utterly involved in a small, forward thinking wine business.

She found just that in Irvine Wines and her role as winemaker and brand architect challenges her to create wines of purity and grace that extend the understanding of what great Barossa and Eden Valley vineyards can produce.

THE WINERYIrvine Wines is focused on engaging people in the adventure and exploration of new expressions of Barossa wines. Internationally renowned for its pioneering work with merlot in Australia, Irvine Wines has always pushed the boundaries of what we have traditionally thought wines from the Barossa and Eden Valleys should look like by respecting the past while helping to shape a new future.

Alexia Roberts PENNY’S HILL

Alexia Roberts has made wine around the world but ask her where on the planet she most wants to make wine, she looks around and says “right here.”

Alexia’s been making wine in McLaren Vale since 2004, amassing an impressive collection of medals and trophies, including the award for ‘World’s Best Cabernet Sauvignon’ in 2016.

Alexia’s winemaking style is best described as elegant and intuitive and results in a finely crafted, fruit driven range of wines three single vineyard sites : Penny’s Hill, Goss Corner and Malpas Road.

WINERYTony and Susie Parkinson bought the Penny’s Hill property 25 years ago and the winemaking journey began with 141 cases of shiraz produced in the 1995 vintage.

Today Penny’s Hill is a prominent part of the McLaren Vale landscape. The elevated site is slightly cooler than the Vale floor, delivering even ripening and lower yields resulting in outstanding fruit quality.

A meticulous approach is the Penny’s Hill way and the wines deliver an ultimate balance of texture, complexity and interest, with quality well above price being the outcome sought.

Louisa RoseYALUMBA

Louisa grew up in Melbourne, spending weekends in the Yarra Valley on the family vineyard. She completed a science degree in physics and then relocated to South Australia and to Roseworthy College, to study winemaking.

She worked the 1992 vintage as a cellar hand at Yalumba, and returned to join the team in 1993. 26 vintages later, Louisa has worked alongside many legends of Yalumba, being involved in almost every facet of viticulture, winemaking and management taking on the role of chief winemaker in 2006.

Louisa has been the industry leader in the developmental work on viognier in Australia, a champion of sustainable practices in the vineyard and winery and widely awarded for her work both her and internationally.

WINERYEstablished in 1849, Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family owned wine company.

After more than 168 years, Yalumba remains fiercely independent and extremely progressive through exclusive ownership by the Hill-Smith family.

Teamwork is vital and decisions are the result of patience, consensus and innovation. There is foresight to micro-manage individual vineyards, a will to preserve the very old vines of the Barossa, and the knowledge to behave as a leader in the industry.

With success intrinsically linked to the land, Yalumba is acutely aware of how its presence impacts the environment. Looking to the future, Yalumba has created a sustainable business in which responsible environmental practice is integrated into everyday activities.

Jenny Semmler919 WINES

Jenny Semmler started her career as a pharmacist, wine researcher and lecturer. After working for Strathbogie Vineyards, Pennyweight Wines and St Huberts, she took a position as Quality Manager for Constellation Wines, and was recognised as one of the world specialists in bag in box wine production.

Jenny established 919 Wines together with her husband and as Company Secretary and Director she oversees marketing, bottling and administration of the company.

Jenny is a firm believer in community involvement, serving on the Riverland Wine Show Committee, Food Riverland and Riverland Tourism Association. She now enjoys contributing to the Riverland Wine marketing team, and sits on the Board of Destination Riverland.

WINERY919 Wines is a small family company in South Australia’s Riverland, specialising in the production of high quality table wines and fortified wines.

Founded in 1999, with the first vineyard established in 2002, and the first vintage in 2004, the vineyards and wines are certified organic, in keeping with a philosophy of living sustainably within the environment.

The business is built on the foundations of quality, sustainability and identity. For 919 Wines sustainability encompasses a relationship with the land and with employees, suppliers, customers and community, in fostering trust through ethical behaviour in the marketplace, and through forming relationships with other businesses with similar ethical standards.

Christie SchulzTURKEY FLAT VINEYARDS

Christie made the move from Adelaide to the Barossa in the 1980s, taking her place in the Fourth Generation of the Schulz family to own and work the vineyard estate on Bethany Road, Tanunda in the Barossa Valley.

As one of the managing partners since the inception of Turkey Flat Vineyards in 1990, Christie has brought to Turkey Flat her wide-ranging business management experience and her own creative abilities, incorporating both into all facets of the company’s product development, packaging and marketing.

With a background in professional photography Christie’s keen eye for detail has served the iconic Barossa brand well.

WINERYWith an approach to vineyard management that seeks to operate within the local ecosystems instead of in competition with them, the vineyards survive on natural rainfall with minimal tillage techniques and cover crop mulching to protect ancient and unique soils.

All aspects of Turkey Flat Vineyards are committed to reducing their environmental footprint, harvesting rain water for use in the winery and using solar panels to provide the main source of power. The Turkey Flat vision is of a truly sustainable agricultural business which operates as a functional and not just a consumptive part of the ecosystems it occupies.

Corrina WrightOLIVER’S TARANGA

Described by WBM Magazine as a “legend in the making” and by James Halliday as being part of a “remarkable dynasty”, Corrina is the Director and Winemaker of her family’s label, Oliver’s Taranga.

She graduated from the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial in 2005, and continues to judge at numerous wine shows around Australia. Passionate about her home, her vocation and local community she has served on the Boards of the McLaren Vale Grape, Wine & Tourism Association and the Australian Society of Viticulture & Oenology. She is a current board member for the Winemakers Federation of Australia representing small winemakers, a member of the Australian Women in Wine Awards advisory committee, and is a member of McLaren Vale’s inaugural Ambassador program.

WINERYSix generations of stubborn, competitive growers and one equally spirited winemaker- that’s the Oliver family. Living smack bang on the middle of McLaren Vale, they thrive on producing perfect parcels of fruit on their 100 hectare ‘Taranga’ property. Their collection of handcrafted wines speak of both a variety and a vintage, capturing a time and a place, while continuing to document the family’s ongoing 175 year relationship with the land.

Run by dynamic cousins Corrina Wright and Brioni Oliver, the wines grown on the estate cover both the traditional McLaren Vale varieties as well as ‘alternative’ varieties such as fiano, vermentino, mencia and sagrantino.

Dawne Thomas THOMAS VINEYARD ESTATE

Dawne Thomas is the proprietor of Thomas Vineyard Estate. She began her career in the wine industry 20 years ago when she and her husband purchased land in Mclaren Vale and planted a Shiraz vineyard.

Dawne runs the day to day operations of the vineyard, grape growing and wine business which includes, pest and disease management, irrigation management, the engagement of contractors and working with the contract winemaking team. Dawne also looks after the sales and marketing of the Thomas Vineyard Estate wine brand.

She has a passion for the wine industry and looks forward to continually learning and improving so that her business remains successful and sustainable.

WINERYThomas Vineyard Estate is a family owned vineyard located in Mclaren Vale, situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula three kilometres from the coast of the Gulf of St Vincent.

The 5.6 hectare vineyard was established in 1998 with the planting of two shiraz clones 1127 and 1654. The soils in the vineyard are grey clay over limestone which produces some excellent quality fruit enabling the winemakers to consistently produce premium wines. The wines are entirely estate grown on a single vineyard utilizing sustainable vineyard practices.

Ang TolleyPENLEY ESTATE

Penley Estate was born from the marriage of two pioneering wine families, the Penfold’s and the Tolley’s. And born of a dream of three siblings in 1988. Today the estate is owned by sisters Ang & Bec Tolley, and like their ancestors they are strong, resilient and determined women. With winemaker Kate Goodman at the helm, their is little doubt this winery is all about women!

Ang is married to David Paxton, therefore it’s not just her family heritage that makes the wine industry a big part of her life.

When their brother retired in 2015, rather than selling, Ang & Bec decided to revitalise, reinvigorate and refresh the wine of Penley Estate– make it true to itself, gossiped about and socially celebrated at any occasion… for everyone to enjoy.

WINERYWe’ve the taken the old Roller and painted it red. To make it go faster, to be fun and breezy. So that everyone can enjoy the ride. And appreciate the timelessness of a new beginning. We are the wines with carefree souls; the wines for now and the wines for later.

Our wine maker Kate Goodman is regarded as one of Australia’s best contemporary winemakers. Kate is creating wines with freshness and vibrancy – seeking structure and expression of fruit – while still retaining varietal integrity.

All of our wines are truly estate grown and our vineyards are the pride of everything we do. We seek balance and take a very holistic approach to our viticultural practises. Seeking to create a balance between the soil and the vine. We are contemporary Coonawarra.

Stephanie TooleMOUNT HORROCKS

Stephanie Toole took the long way to eventually settling in the Clare Valley.

Born and raised in Timaru, New Zealand, Stephanie spent much of the early 1980’s in search of good food and great wine through Europe before moving to Perth in 1986.

But then a meeting in the early 1990’s with a visiting South Australian winemaker by the name of Jeffery Grosset changed all that, and before long Stephanie was on her way to Auburn in the Clare Valley, a fortuitous move for all concerned.

In 1993 she purchased Mount Horrocks Wines, and in the years since has established a collection of single vineyard sites producing wines that are distinctively delicious, impeccably made and unerringly true to a sense of place.

WINERYMount Horrocks produces approximately 3500 cases a year from single vineyard sites. The vineyards are estate owned, total ten hectares all up, and are all ‘A Grade Certified’ organic.

These vineyards are all hand-picked and the fruit gently handled under conditions that ensure the varietal and site-specific flavours in the resultant wine, as well as its organic status, are retained.

Stephanie’s unwavering focus on quality over more than twenty years at Mount Horrocks is clearly evident in an exemplary range of wines, each of the highest quality and classic in style yet unique, due to their single site origins combined with Stephanie’s sensitive winemaking approach.

Sue Trott FIVE GEESE WINES

Sue Trott’s involvement in the wine industry goes back to 1970, leading to the purchase of a McLaren Vale vineyard in 1985, expansion of vineyard holdings to Blewitt Springs in 1996 and the establishment of the Five Geese label in 1998.

She managed all this while maintaining a career as a physiotherapist, but when the time eventually came to choose one over the other, wine won out.

Sue will admit the vagaries inherent in an agricultural pursuit like wine production can challenge her rational mind, and she’s not one naturally inclined to self-promotion, but she knows she doesn’t have to make a big song and dance when her wines speak so eloquently for themselves and it’s in that fact she finds her greatest reward.

WINERYFive Geese is a small batch producer producing elegant and refined wines that reflect the vineyard and the vagaries of seasonal variations.

#NEWsouthaustralia

www.newsouthaustralia.com

London Office of the Agent General of South Australia

AgentG_Adelaide

@AgentG_Adelaide