Koonowla - Alexander George

Koonowla - Alexander George

Author: DKPS Media March 10, 2022 Duration: 35:52
A pioneering estate with vines first planted in 1896, the lovingly restored property just five kilometres east of Auburn lives and breathes the region’s winemaking traditions, embracing a new generation of custodianship under the watchful eye of father and son Nick and Alexander George. Deeply respectful of Koonowla’s extraordinary history, the George family have worked tirelessly to restore the original landmark buildings, rehabilitate the delightful grounds and reawaken the heritage-rich gravity winery as well as the surrounding vineyards.
Koonowla’s story has always been one of resilience and hope, shooting to prominence in the early 1900s with founder John Tothill overseeing the production of up to 250,000 litres of wine annually with a booming export business. But a disastrous fire in 1926 damaged the winery and much of the vineyard, prompting a conversion to grain and wool. As the modern Australian wine industry came to life in the 1980s, the vineyards were replanted, and from 1991 under then owners, the Michael family, grew to 50 hectares of highly regarded estate-grown shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, riesling, merlot and semillon.
After falling in love with the property at a concert in the grounds in 2017, finally the moment came in 2019 for Nick to acquire Koonowla and further establish his roots in the Clare Valley with revered vineyards from Armagh in the north of the region to Auburn in the south. As Nick and son Alex proceed to write the next chapter in the property’s rich history, they wish to showcase the estate not just as a centre for great wine but as a welcoming venue for special occasions – weddings, anniversaries, community functions, corporate lunches – the opportunities are endless.
Just like the Koonowla story. A place where respect for the past inspires a future of hope and well-being.

The familiar, intimate format of Wine Soundtrack finds a new home down under. This Australian iteration of the popular Italian podcast, produced by DKPS Media, transplants a simple but powerful concept: a conversation built around thirty questions. Each episode is a quiet, focused visit with a wine producer, where the structured interview peels back the layers of a winery's identity. You won't just hear about grape varieties or harvest techniques, though those details naturally emerge. The core of the podcast is the personal narrative-the origins of a family estate, the philosophy guiding the cellar, the specific challenges and triumphs of crafting wine in Australian soil. It’s designed to move beyond a simple review or tasting note, aiming instead to capture the voice of the people behind the label. Listeners become privy to the candid reflections, the aspirations, and the very human stories that are bottled alongside the Shiraz or Semillon. The format creates a consistent, revealing rhythm, allowing for deep comparison between different makers and regions across Australia. For anyone curious about the character and drive that defines a vineyard, this series offers a direct line to the source, framing the entire world of wine through the lens of personal history and passion. It’s a podcast for those who believe the best stories are often told over a glass, or in this case, through a microphone.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 30

Wine Soundtrack - Australia
Podcast Episodes
Yering Station Rathbone Wine Group - Darren Rathbone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:05
Yering Station has been core to the Victorian wine story for almost two centuries. With vines first planted in 1838, Yering Station is proudly the state of Victoria’s first vineyard. To this day, we’re proudly family own…
Mount Pleasant Wines - Adrian Sparks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:55
The history of Mount Pleasant goes hand in hand with the history of Modern Australian winemaking. Established in 1921 by legendary winemaker Maurice O’Shea, ours is a story of genuine pride, perfectionism and our very sp…
Tarrawarra  - Adam McCallum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
Founders Marc and Eva Besen purchased the property at TarraWarra in 1979, initially as a family retreat. Thanks to their love of the wines of Burgundy, and with encouragement from legendary Yarra Valley winemaker Dr John…
Wirra Wirra - Mathew Deller MW AUSTR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:18
In 1894 Robert Strangways Wigley, a former state cricketer and lovable eccentric purchased 240 acres of land in McLaren Vale and established Wirra Wirra. In a burgeoning era for McLaren Vale as a wine region, Wirra Wirra…
Munda Wines - Damien Smith - Pauly Vandenbergh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:47
Munda Wines stands as an Indigenous-owned enterprise proudly holding verified Supply Nation status. Pauly Vandenbergh, the Director hailing from Ceduna, is a proud member of the Wirangu and Kokatha people, whose ancestra…
Mount Langi Ghiran - Adam Lauder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:43
Established in the 1960s by the Fratin family, Mount Langi Ghiran is a pioneer in cool-climate Shiraz, located in the remote and rugged Grampian region of Southeastern Australia. Originating from a pre-phylloxera Shiraz…
Trocchio Wines - Tim Donegan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:11
At Trocchio Wines our philosophy is to make wines that are a true expression of where they come from: the soils, the growing conditions of a given season and the cultural impacts such as canopy management etc. This is th…
Dandelion wines - Elena Brooks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:15
Dandelion Vineyards are proven plantings that have stood the test of time. We grow our own grapes and source from the best of family vineyards. Our wish is to nurture the unique character of these vineyards and express t…
Hugh Hamilton - Mary Hamilton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:11
Our tale begins 184 years ago in Dover, England. Hugh’s great, great grandfather Richard Hamilton, formerly a tailor, packed up his life and sailed to the emerging colony of South Australia to become a farmer. It wasn’t…
Phil Reedman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:05
Philip Reedman is one of only 416 Masters of Wine in the world; he lives and works in Adelaide. A certified educator for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Philip is also highly involved in education through the Instit…