Basic Info

Gilli and Paule's story began in 2005 when they resigned from their (unspecified) jobs in London, did a vintage in Languedoc, and then headed to Margaret River to study oenology and viticulture. While combining study and work, their goal was to learn as much as possible about Pinot noir and Chardonnay. They gained experience working in large, small, biodynamic, conventional, minimum and maximum intervention vineyards and wineries including Woodlands, Xanadu, Beaux Freres, Chehalem and Mt. Difficulty. Four years later, after experiences in the Margaret River, France, Oregon and New Zealand, they decided it was now or never to dive into their own project... In 2010 they traveled to Huon Valley, Australia’s Southernmost municipality and coolest wine region. Aside from two of the most awarded vineyards in Tasmania (Elsewhere and Home Hill), the industry had barely scratched the surface of the myriad of microclimates within the valley. They stumbled upon a dilapidated 6.5ha vineyard planted in 2005. Opportunity beckoned. It had a NE-facing slope, sheltered from the prevailing cold, and planted to six different clones of Pinot; perfect right? Not quite. Half the vines were dead, blackberries crowded around and about one hundred trees littered the vineyard. Not-so-perfect, but it was right on the edge of viticultural possibility. They found a diamond-in-the-rough (literally!) with tons of potential for beautiful expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their risk paid off - their first release of the 2013 Sailor Seeks Horse Pinot was an instant success.