2024 The Wine Smile

This one is a bit special.

Life is shaped by moments and people. My late father-in-law was one of them. For those who knew Warrick he was tough, but fair, kind but also restrained. He was the fella who truly got me interested in wine. Many a claret was consumed over the dining table at the Station over the years, always with a story or two and generally followed by rock classics and an impromptu dance party in the lounge.

There was many special moments with this legend. One I’ll never forget. One particular afternoon we were in his Ute, up the back of the vineyard talking all things water - a topic he knew so well. We were in the throes of buying the vineyard, sun going down looking from a high point on the vineyard out across the township and through to their property, Ballandean Station. The hills of Sundown in the distance lit up by the sun as it slowly went down. I’ll never forget this day. 

After a bottle or two of red, Warrick would end up with a little ‘wine smile’ in the corner of his mouth, a sure sign of a good night and inspiration of this wine. The Wine Smile is a nod to you mate. The label captures the hills of Sundown National Park sparking a memory for me of an afternoon with a truly great fella who positively shaped my little family’s life.

Warrick was taken too soon from this world and for every bottle I sell we will donate $5 to the local cancer support group, as it’s a disease that affects too many.

I threw the kitchen sink at this wine, to make something elegant yet big and bold, Shiraz and Cabernet based.  We will only make it in a good year. Will cellar for years to come and get better with age.

Cheers to you Warrick or as our kids called him, Waggy. Forever the brightest star in the sky at dusk and always in all of our hearts.  Very limited supply.