Now: A new generation

Today there are too many grape vines in Western Australia. There have been too many ‘tax effective’ investment schemes in trees, olives and vines, and the industry is in for a hard time. The cowboys responsible for this disaster profited from the indulgence of successful federal governments both Liberal and Labour in turn responding to big company insistence that they could sell more wine overseas. That gate has now been closed, but it’s too late.

It’s not a good time to be involved in the wine business. However, we’re well established and family run. At 66 I still love working hard in the vineyard. I’m gathering a strong team who are enthusiastic to take things forward. I’m passionate about new developments. The kids have become well skilled outside the business and are keen to contribute. They have confidence in the future and are fast learners. That is pleasing of course. There is great potential in the land and we like to see things grow.

It’s time to reinvent ourselves, refurbish and renew, so we have agreed that the task is to build a new winery and cellar door in Karridale. Its remote, many fewer visitors reach that far south. But the same consideration applied when we moved our beachfront pottery in Vasse to Commonage Road in Dunsborough.

The Dunsborough Cellar Door will continue to grow and diversify.