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By now, you’ve probably flicked through this issue of Newcastle Weekly and read all about D’Vine Weekend. You may have also spotted the rather good-looking bunch smiling back at you from the front cover. That’s us. The owners, winemakers and assorted wine-industry characters from Around Hermitage. Now, if you happen to recognise us over the weekend, don’t be disappointed if we don’t look quite as polished in real life. That front cover took a surprising amount of effort. 

The sun was directly in our eyes. There was plenty of squinting, blinking and laughing, and far more takes than any of us care to admit. At one point I’m fairly sure none of us could actually see the camera anymore. 

See… you’ve already got your first behind-the-scenes story, and that’s exactly what D’Vine Weekend is really about. This magazine tells you where to go. I’m here to tell you what to ask. 

Around Hermitage is one of the Hunter Valley’s most special little pockets because we’re proudly independent. These aren’t wineries run from a boardroom hundreds of kilometres away. The owners are still mowing the lawns, fixing the pumps, tasting every barrel, worrying about the weather, making the wine and then standing behind the cellar door to welcome you in. Sometimes all in the same day. That’s what makes D’Vine so much fun. You don’t just taste wine. You meet the people who risked everything to make it. So don’t waste the opportunity asking, “What’s your best seller?” sk the questions you’ve always wanted answered. 

“How much beer do you really drink during vintage?”  

“At what point during harvest do you start questioning your life choices?” 

“Which wine nearly broke your heart?” 

“Which vintage gave you the most grey hairs?” 

“What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made?” 

“Have you ever quietly tasted something from a barrel and thought, ‘Well… that’s not ideal.’” 

“Which wine are you secretly most proud of?” 

These are the stories you won’t find on the back label. And they’re usually far more entertaining. Fair warning though, if you ask a winemaker one question, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll still be there twenty minutes later! 

Every winery around Hermitage has its own personality. Some are traditional. Some love pushing boundaries. Some have been here for generations. Others are writing the next chapter. But every single one has a story worth hearing. That’s the beauty of independent wineries. There’s no script. No marketing department telling us what to say. Just real people, real wines and the occasional confession that probably shouldn’t leave the tasting bench. This magazine gives you the program. D’Vine Weekend is where you meet the characters. 

So… you’ve seen the cover. Now come and meet the cast. Come and explore Around Hermitage, discover a few hidden gems, meet the makers, ask the questions and stay a little longer than you planned. And when you find yourself at Latitude 32 Wines, I’d genuinely love you to pop in and say hello. Tell me you read this column in Newcastle Weekly and I’ll happily pour you a glass, introduce you to our little piece of the Hunter Valley and prove I really do look like the person on the front cover… 

…on a good day. 

One final tip, book ahead. D’Vine Weekend is one of the Hunter Valley’s favourite weekends and the best experiences fill quickly. We can’t wait to welcome you. 

 

 

This World Environment Day, the theme is Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.

As vineyard owners, it is a theme that resonates deeply with us because every bottle of wine begins long before the grapes arrive at the winery.

It begins with the soil.

I spent much of my career chasing budgets, forecasts, deadlines and KPIs before David and I purchased our first vineyard. What I quickly discovered was that grapevines don’t care much for spreadsheets.

Nature has a way of keeping you humble.

You can have the best plans in the world, but if the rain arrives at the wrong time, if conditions stay too dry for too long, or if a flock of birds decides your grapes are the best meal in the valley, you quickly realise who is really in charge.

The longer we’ve spent in the vineyard, the more we’ve come to appreciate that great wine isn’t simply about growing grapes. It’s about creating healthy, resilient ecosystems that can thrive for generations to come.

 

Looking Beyond the Vines

When most people visit a vineyard, they look at the vines.

These days, I spend just as much time looking at everything else.

The soil beneath our feet.

The cover crops growing between the rows.

The insects, worms and microorganisms that most people never notice.

Because the truth is, healthy vineyards start from the ground up.

That’s why regenerative viticulture has become such an important part of how we farm at Latitude 32.

Rather than focusing solely on production, regenerative viticulture encourages us to think about the long-term health of the land. It is about improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, building resilience and leaving the vineyard in better condition than we found it.

 

What Regenerative Viticulture Looks Like at Latitude 32

Across our vineyards, you’ll find cover crops growing between every second row.

I’ll admit they don’t always look particularly neat. In fact, there are days when they look downright messy.

But beneath the surface they are doing important work.

Cover crops help improve soil structure, reduce erosion, increase organic matter and encourage biodiversity throughout the vineyard. They also help support healthier soils capable of retaining moisture and supporting stronger vines.

We’ve also focused on encouraging beneficial insects and native pollinators throughout our vineyards. Ladybugs, native bees and other beneficial species play an important role in maintaining balance within the ecosystem.

We’ve reduced unnecessary soil disturbance wherever possible and return organic material back to the vineyard to help build healthier soils over time.

Many of these changes are small on their own.

Together, they help create a healthier and more resilient vineyard.

 

Sustainability Is a Journey

One of the biggest lessons farming has taught us is that sustainability isn’t something you ever finish.

There is no final destination.

Every vintage teaches us something new.

Every season presents a different challenge.

Every year we look for ways to improve.

For us, sustainability is not about marketing claims or ticking boxes. It is about making practical decisions that ensure these vineyards continue producing exceptional fruit for decades to come.

It is also why we are working towards Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification.

The certification process provides an important framework to measure our performance, challenge our thinking and hold ourselves accountable. More importantly, it reinforces our commitment to continual improvement across both the vineyard and winery.

 

Caring for the Next Generation

The Hunter Valley has been producing wine for almost two centuries.

We are simply the current custodians of a small piece of that story.

Our responsibility is not just to make great wine today, but to ensure these vineyards remain healthy, productive and sustainable for future generations.

Because great wine starts with healthy land.

And healthy land starts with looking after the environment that makes it all possible.

This World Environment Day, we’re proud to celebrate the role nature plays in every bottle we produce and remain committed to farming in a way that respects the land, supports biodiversity and contributes to a more sustainable future.

After all, the better we look after the vineyard, the better the vineyard looks after us.