The answer is simply the opportunity to develop his own family wine business and to make his own wines, in a region which has the oldest Shiraz, Mourvedre and Cabernet wines in the world.

It was also the chance to work with 6th generation wine growers who understand their vineyard and are more interested in a handshake than a contract.

John loves working with the fruit that comes from the old vines of the region, so he started with 'Plexus', a Rhone style blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre and in 2006 released his first Shiraz, 'Entity'. John has also released small quantities of a reserve Shiraz, Eligo, further highlighting the premium quality fruit from the Barossa.

John Duval Wines will never be another Penfolds - it is simply John's chance to express his 30 odd years of premium winemaking knowledge using some of the best fruit in the world.