Given my family background, it was inevitable that I would work in wine. My early inspiration came from my father, Wayne Thomas who had a distinguished career making wine where I was raised in McLaren Vale. During my formative winemaking years, despite being groomed for a possible winemaking career in South Australia, I developed a deep passion for finesse, and the more subtle and savoury structured wines of the Hunter Valley . After graduating with a degree in Oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College, I began my winemaking journey at Tyrrell’s Vineyards. During 13 years guidance under the legendary Murray Tyrrell at Tyrrells Wines, I gained a great respect for, and understanding of the two signature varieties of the Hunter Valley – semillon and shiraz. My thirst for more knowledge and winemaking experience was quenched with vintages in Sonoma, Tuscany, Piedmont and Provence; but the desire to make world class wines under my own label could no longer be denied, it was time to go out on my own.