A sparkling combination

Howard has over 55 years of wine experience. Starting out as a trainee winemaker in 1964, moving through to the beginning of his obsession with sparkling wine from 1970, where he would become the Senior Winemaker for Seppelt Great Western (a powerhouse in sparkling wines at the time). In 1984 Howard moved to Rutherglen to take up the role of Winemaker and General Manager of Joliment Wines. During his time there, Howard became the first winemaker to produce sparkling white and red wines in the northeast region of Victoria.

Christobelle has been crafting wines now for just shy of 20 years. Upon graduating in 2003, Christobelle spent time in some of the world's most famous wine regions in France where she would hone her skills. Champagne, Burgundy, Alsace and the northern Rhone valley would be her home until she returned to Australia and Rutherglen in 2005.

There are many elements that go into making quality wine and two such areas that Howard and Christobelle are passionate about are: dryland growing and sticking to as many organic principles as possible. Dryland growing or unirrigated vines have presented wines over the years that are fuller in flavour. Although not certified organic, the winery utilises many principles such as choosing to stay below the allowed organic limit for sulphites in their wine and also avoiding other additives, particularly in the sparkling wines.