Meet the Maker - Michael Downer, Murdoch Hill, Australia

Australia has got to be one of the worlds best places to source wine from if you are looking for variety and being bigger than Europe, it’s easy to understand why. You can find pretty much all of the worlds most famous grape varieties down under. Quality ranges - like most wine producing countries - from great value, though to world class wines. But perhaps one of the most exciting regions in Oz is the Adelaide Hills. It is a region that is home to a lot of innovation, and some of the country’s most exciting young winemakers. This week we caught up with Michael Downer form Murdoch Hill. Downer is a winemaker with two core focuses, on one hand he produces traditional wines with a very classical approach to production. On the other, he is keen to focus on more quirky, artisan expressions of wine that perfectly encapsulate the intricacies of this diverse region. Here’s what he had to say!

Why did you decide to get into winemaking?

Growing up on the family farm and seeing the establishment of our vineyard lead me down this path, initially to study viticulture, here I discovered a passion for wine and ultimately drew me across to winemaking.

Do you have a favourite wine or wine region outside of your own?

Barolo and Nebbiolo in northwest Italy.

What grape do you like working with the most and why?

Chardonnay and how well it’s suited to the Adelaide Hills and its ability to show the diversity of the region.

Celebrity Crush?

Margot Robbie, I was a neighbour of hers... tragic.

Favourite Movie?

Anything Wes Anderson.

Favourite type of music/artist?

Indie rock, LCD soundsystem.

Fun fact about you that has nothing to do with wine?

I was awarded the Art Prize in my final year of school. Something I plan to get back into for my later years.

Thanks for your time, Ginny. If you haven't had a chance to taste the wonderful wines of Botanica, don't be afraid to head over to Good Pair Days and take a closer look, we promise you won't be disappointed!

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