I haven't hitherto written a column for this magazine – or any other publication – on Coldstream Hills and its wines thanks to the obvious conflict of interest arising from my background as CEO of Coldstream Hills from 1985 to 1996, when a public...

Steve (Stephen) Pannell has always thrown himself into the deep end, cost benefit analyses of passing moment (if at all). His darting eyes and rapid speech are but part of a prodigious intellect coated with unquenchable optimism. Since 1990 he has...

Chris Davies must have had Dutch masters in mind painting angels on pinheads when he planted the first vines of Windows Estate at Yallingup, Margaret River, in 1996. He was only 19, but made the decision from the outset that he, and he alone, would...

Wirra Wirra has always been one of my favourite wineries. Its founder was Robert Strangways Wigley, a member of a wealthy Adelaide family, who studied law and architecture, played cricket for South Australia, and found ways to outrage the...

This is a cautionary tale, showing that in wine, the very big (Woolworths-owned Endeavour Group) can happily live with small high-quality wineries. Endeavour Group's retail sales in FY21 were $10.1 billion, and it's a multi-layered business. It...

If you are the owner and winemaker of a small winery in Australia it helps to have a sense of humour. It is essential if you are self-taught and don't know the name of your banker – unless, that is, you are either terribly poor or terribly wealthy....

When winemaker Corey Ryan and multi-skilled viticulturist Simon Cowham established Sons of Eden in 2000 they already had years of experience in the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Ryan has now racked up 25+ Barossa vintages, and also worked in New...

After Coldstream Hills was acquired by Southcorp Wines in 1996, I attended the London Wine Trade Fair and managed (solo) a small table which offered the new-release wines of Coldstream Hills and Wynns Coonawarra Estate. Lunch was out of the...

MMAD Vineyard is the venture of four men, two of whom are Masters of Wine, and two are highly regarded winemakers with many years of fine wine experience. The name is derived from the first letter of the Christian name of each: Martin Shaw, Michael...

In 1982 nurseryman turned vigneron Garry Crittenden planted two hectares of vines, and in so doing doubled the size of overall plantings on the Mornington Peninsula. It has been suggested he also introduced barbera, nebbiolo, dolcetto and...