"Some might think the link between geology and viticulture is tenuous but I think that my experience in the wine industry shows this could not be farther from the truth"
Graduating with a first-class honours science degree majoring in Geology, John was in a good position to nurture his vitalogical passion.
To be a successful viticulturalist requires that one has an acute understanding of soils and rock formations that underpin the quality of a soil. With this in mind John invested in his first vineyard in 1982 in the Hunter Valley and combining simple geological knowledge and viticultural principle purchased further land in Orange and in the Limestone Coast.
John’s purchase of Pepper Tree Wines in 2002 completed his objective of putting together his own vineyards with a compatible high quality boutique winery, where each vineyard’s terroir can be fully expressed. Working with the winemaking team, lead by Jim Chatto, John has forged a reputation as an astute viticulturist with an unerring eye for matching soil types with their most suited grape varieties.