As with many wine enthusiasts, I’ve always had an interest in Pinot Noir. Certainly, it wasn’t until I began working with many different parcels of Heathcote Shiraz in 2004 that I began to appreciate the variety’s versatility and allure.
In 2005 and 2006, I made 300 cases of shiraz. It was a fantastic experience and I was very happy with the result. After this, however, work on Abela Wines was put on hold while I followed my heart in a different direction. I had met Tanja, now the mother of my two children, but who lived in Germany. I took a role as an Oenology specialist for Oceania with a large French company, which gave me lots of opportunity to travel to the headquarters in Europe and be closer to her. But I never stopped thinking about Abela Wines.
After Tanja moved to Australia, we focused on finding the perfect location. After some time searching, we bought the block in Athlone early in 2012. The winery was then planned and built to completion late in 2013, with the first vintage in 2014.
