Express Winemakers
diamond in the rough
They say one person’s trash is another’s treasure, and Ryan O’Meara and Pete Ikstrums have that rare ability to spot a diamond in the rough.
On an endless quest for neglected or abandoned vineyards across our Great Southern Land, Ryan and Pete farm six vineyards across Australia, from Mount Barker Chenin Blanc in SA, to Porongurup and Denmark in WA.
An organic approach sees the vineyards under their care flourishing within a few short years, with improved disease resistance and balanced vines producing high quality rather than high yields.
honest and expressive
Their attention to detail in the vineyard means that less is required in the winery. In the vineyard is where they prefer to be.
The Express Winemakers lineup is nothing short of colourful. Going against the grain since 2011, a love for the French carries throughout, from tense, floral Chardonnay and orange Semillons, to whole bunchy Chenin Blanc and pretty Pinot Noir blended with Sauv Blanc in numerous capacities.
Describing their own wines as honest and expressive, this artisan operation’s future outlook equates to imaginative innovation that’s immensely gratifying in the glass.