At the core of our winemaking is the belief that the wine must start with our footprints in the vineyard. We craft wines that connect seamlessly to the vineyard. Giving a true and honest expression of site.
MIKE
Mike Garland draws on decades of winemaking experience in the Great Southern, driven by a passion for cool-climate wines and this region.From humble beginnings at Plantaganet Wines under the tutorledge of Tony Smith in his first vintage (1996). Mike, and his wife Julie purchased a small established vineyard in Mount Barker. In those first few years while Mike worked at Plantaganet Wines, they built a house, planted more vineyards and started their family. Garlands was a small, yet highly functional winery. Producing wines for a handful of small producers in the region alongside their own label crafted from the 9 hectares of estate vineyards which they tended to and lived alongside. Planted to Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot. In 2003, then a family of four, the Garland's headed to Germany. Settling in to life along the Rhein at Weingut Weingart. Mike fell head over heels for Riesling production and took home with him many incredible techniques that shape the Riesling he produces today. In 2007, Mike was approached with the opportunity to start and operate a new 500T facility in Denmark as their Chief Winemaker - Castelli Estate. The next 14 years were spent establishing them as one of the foremost brands in Australia. A different mixtape for every vintage, a rotating team of winemakers from Pepi the destroyer to Andrew Hoadley & Andrew Milbourne, along with a whole host of unforgettable cellar hands that shaped those years for both Mike and Callum.In 2021, Mike made the move back to Plantaganet Wines, this time taking on the role of Chief Winemaker, a true full circle moment. At the same time Cal was living over east and the family were doing their best to talk most days, often chatting about ideas for a wine brand. One afternoon, out of the blue Mike called Cal and said "Let's do it."Though he won't tell you about it, Mike has won countless awards from Best White Wine at the London International Wine Competition to Best Chardonnay in the 2017 Halliday Wine Competition Awards. But truely he loves making wines that are true and honest expressions of site. Especially when that's alongside his son, Callum. CALLUM
Despite spending his childhood following Mike between the vineyard and winery in Mount Barker, Callum Garland didn’t see himself working in the wine industry. That is, until he worked his first vintage as a Cellar Hand in Denmark. He followed the harvest to Croze Hermitage that year, spending 5 months at Domaine Pradelle. Garnering an appreciation for the old world and cool climate syrah. Settling back into the Great Southern, it wasn’t long before Cal’s next adventure came along. Moving over east to Geelong to work with Lethbridge Wines. Reflecting on his time there he says:“It was the biggest learning opportunity of my life. I learnt so much from Ray and Vassilly.”
While he was there he went from Cellar Hand to Assistant Winemaker/Vineyard Hand to Vineyard Manager, all in the space of 5 years. After a long time on home soils it was time to head back to France. Settling into Domaine Jean Marc et Hugues Pavelot in Savigny-Les-Beaune for 2 months. Living in Burgundy, Cal could not wipe the smile from his face, it was so clear how the different terroirs of each site contributed to the tastes of their resulting ferments - he reflected at the time.“If Burgundy has taught me anything, it’s that great wines are great from the beginning.”
Once back in Australia, the Great Southern called. It was finally time to go home. Jumping straight into vintage with Forest Hill as an Assistant Winemaker. It wasn't long before vineyard leases became available and the opportunity to take on our own sites was too good to refuse. After starting this project as an opportunity to connect, to speak on the phone daily now we get to walk side by side, through the vineyard and the winery. OUR REGION
The Great Southern has a down to earth honesty. Founded by farmers, the Mount Barker wine region came to be thanks to a Department of Agriculture Research Station (1965) based at Forest Hill. An entire region founded on the basis that the conditions here lend themselves to the pursuit of growing high quality wine grapes. It seems that this pursuit is what has brought most of the regions most successful producers here, with backgrounds in soil science, ecology, biology, farming, even having a good eye for decent soil with a shovel to uncover it. The Great Southern is not for the faint of heart, there is no commercial or tourism advantage to being 5 hours from Perth. Yet here we are growing in the Porongurups and Albany, crafting cool climate wines in this wild and rugged place. 