Behind the Wines

Tom Donegan is an Adelaide based wine professional with international experience in sales, marketing, hospitality and export of some of Australia’s finest wineries. In 2020, he joined the team at Shaw + Smith and Tolpuddle Vineyard,where he works as the National Sales Manager in the Adelaide Hills. Tom contributes to the Australian industry through wine show judging, the Wine Australia Future Leaders program and the Adelaide Hills regional body.  Tom holds a Master’s Degree in Wine Business, is a

No stranger to the world of winemaking and viticulture, Alister grew up on his family’s vineyards on the Bellarine Peninsula and was planting vines at the age of 10.With a science degree from Melbourne University, Alister went on to study Oenology at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 2001. Alister then started working at Shadowfax Wines as Assistant Winemaker, a position he held for three years before moving back home to run his family’s winery Kilgour Estate in Bellarine. In 2008, Alister

Adrian Santolin is an award-winning Australian winemaker whose roots run deep into both vineyard soil and Italian tradition. Born to Italian parents and raised on his family’s vineyard and orchard—established by his grandfather, who emigrated from the Veneto region in the 1930s—Adrian’s connection to wine began early and runs deep. His winemaking journey formally began in 2003 in the Hunter Valley, where he quickly rose from cellar hand to assistant winemaker. A pivotal vintage in Italy further

From Jeremy:Owning my own vineyard and creating exceptional wines have been dreams of mine since I was first introduced to White Burgundy and full-bodied Clarets by my father over long Sunday roasts. I spent many years searching New and Old World wine regions, and it wasn’t until one holiday in Margaret River that I knew I had found ‘it’. Impressive on paper, the estate was even more attractive in person. The location was superb, the terroir hard to surpass, and the fruit, already harvested for over

Jeremy Oliver is one of Australia’s most respected and influential wine figures, with a career that spans more than three decades in the world of wine. Best known for his work as a wine critic, author, and presenter, Jeremy earned a reputation for his honest palate, elegant prose, and deep understanding of both Australian and international wine.As the author of multiple acclaimed books — including The Australian Wine Annual — Jeremy has long been a trusted voice for collectors, consumers, and