The Wine Blokes

The Wine Blokes

The Wine Blokes website provides opinions, reviews and information from the coal face of the wine industry. We are not wine journalists, writers, or retailers. We are a group of passionate qualified wine-makers & viticulturists who can provide an insight into the wine industry at the grass roots level.

Who are The Wine Blokes?

The Wine Blokes are a group of Australian Winemaker’s who are passionate not only about wine but the processes, natural and nurtured, to produce great wine. The Wine Blokes have worked extensively throughout Australia in wine-making, viticultural and management roles at some of the best wineries in the land, as well as wine-making in various countries including France, Italy, USA, Chile, Argentina & Spain.

Jono Farrington:

Jono has been involved in the wine industry since he was quite young. His parents had a small vineyard and winery in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia, and spent plenty of school holidays working in the vineyard and winery. He completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) from the University of Adelaide (formely the Roseworthy Agricultural College). He also holds a Post Graduate Degree in Business Management from Monash University. His wine industry experience include working as a winemaker for Petaluma in the Adelaide Hills under the legendary Brian Croser. He was then sent to Smithbrook in the Pemberton region of Western Australia, then owned by Petaluma. He spent 6 years at Smithbrook managing the vineyard and winery, and during that time also completed a vintage at Chateau Carsin in Bordeaux. The two years leading into 2008, he traveled the world with his partner sampling the worlds best wines, and also fulfilling his other passion of equestrian competition.

Sarah Dalkin

Sarah grew up on a sheep property and vineyard in Great Western Victoria. Spending many holidays working in shearing shed and training grapevines, Sarah is well accustomed to life on the land with grape growers and farmers. Sarah studied Agricultural Science at the University of Melbourne and began her a career as a viticulturist with leading viticultural consultant Di Davidson. Keen to work more closely with grapes growers on a business level, Sarah then joined Orlando Wines as a grower liaison officer and spent 4 vintages working with growers in over 12 grape growing regions in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Sarah is also involved with her family’s vineyard and wine business in Great Western, Westgate Wines.

Roger Mills

Roger was raised on a dairy and beef farm in Gippsland, Victoria. Roger completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) from the University of Adelaide, and gained extensive winemaking experience in the Adelaide Hills working with Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith for 5 vintages in the state of the art Shaw + Smith winery. It was here that Roger developed his attention to detail with regard to small lot processing and premium Sauvignon Blanc production. A vintage at Saint Suprey, Napa Valley and at Chateau Carsin, Bordeaux also gave Roger great experience in winemaking abroad. From boutique winemaking to the powerhouse of the Australian wine industry, Roger spent a vintage with Mc William Wines in Griffith, New South Wales seeing how large scale wineries operate. An opportunity to make premium Riesling arose and Roger recently spent 2 vintages at Knappstein Wines in the Clare Valley of South Australia. Also a micro brewery, Roger was able to lend a hand in the Knappstein brewery during his time in the Clare Valley. Roger currently works with the Wine Network Group as an oenologist providing services to wineries throughout Australia in alcohol adjustment and taint removal.

Paul Hruska

Paul grew up amidst the workings of one of South Australia’s top restaurants, the family owned Maximilians in Verdun. His inate sense and feel for food and wine ensured he would always excel in the wine industry, and after completing a Bachelor or Agricultural Science (Oenology) from the University of Adelaide, he pursued vintage winemaking experience in many of the great winemaking regions of the world. Click Here to read more.

What is The Wine Blokes Website about?The Wine Blokes offer reviews of wines from all over the world and an opportunity to order the wine online.

The Wine Blokes aim to help anyone interested in wine - from novice to extreme wine buff - find wines they will like. We also want to explain, to those of you who are interested, a little about the winemakers craft - and show you the places where your wine has come from, explaining along the way, just why those specific conditions produce the wine you drink!

Whatever point of interest you have in wine, whether you are a grower, a wine-maker, a buyer, a dealer, or just a drinker (like most of us!) we’re sure we have a story, article or video that you will enjoy.

We will be looking at various aspects of the wine industry, and creating video blogs and stories of our experiences in the wine industry, including vintage diaries, and tastings.

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Enjoy your wine,

The Wine Blokes