Rob Dolan

Winemaker + Managing Director

Years in Industry: 36

Regions worked in: Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley, Coonawarra

Previous life: Physical Education Teacher, Psychologist and Footballer

Character Quirk: Always at stage 5 of a 20 point plan, invented the terrine sandwich, favourite songs are Kokomo by The Beach Boys and Sugarman by Rodriguez

Ben Dolan

General Manager

Years in Industry: 8

Regions worked in: Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley, Central Otago (NZ) + Napa Valley (California, USA), Burgundy (France), Beaujolais (France)

Previous life: Business/Sports Management Student

Character Quirk: Knows all the words to ‘How to Make Gravy’ by Paul Kelly

Adrian Santolin

Chief Winemaker

Years in Industry: 18

Regions worked in: Yarra Valley, Sunbury, Hunter Valley, Riverina, Franciacorta (Italy) + Veneto (Italy)

Previous life: Sports Management
Character Quirk: Wants to bring back the 90’s

Han Gao

Winemaker

Years in Industry: 10

Regions worked in: Yarra Valley, Riverland, Pipers River, Bretzfeld (Germany) + Sancere (France)

Previous life: Student – Bachelor of Science + Engineering, Master of Oenology and Viticulture

Character Quirk: One of the best Chinese exports you’ll find, has a talent for disarming people with her sharp sense of humour

Raphael Michael

Assistant Winemaker

Years in Industry: 2 (paid anyway!)

Regions worked in: Yarra Valley

Previous life: Student – Major in Chemistry + Microbiology, grew up working on his family vineyard

Character Quirk: Lunch room quiz master, creator of hot sauce

Peta Carlson

Laboratory Technician

Years in Industry: 6

Regions worked in: Yarra Valley

Previous life: Myotherapist

Character Quirk: 50% human, 50% hot cross bun, queen of the bitmoji

Tom Boyd

Cellar

What drove you to winemaking? I used to work in Hospitality as a server – my favourite part was always tasting wines and making recommendations. So, I thought why not apply to do my first vintage!

Best moment of 2021 vintage? Receiving my Rob Dolan beanie – because I haven’t taken it off since!

• How long have you been in the industry for? 5 years
  working in hospitality and this is my second vintage.

Liam Macey

Cellar

Years in Industry: 3.5

Regions worked in: Yarra Valley

Previous life: Duty manager at a winery and restaurant

Character Quirk: : loves to belt out a Daryl Braithwaite tune on a Friday arvo, occasionally dabbles with his own ferments in his backyard

Mim Storey

Cellar Door Manager

Favourite wines: ALL WINE! Interesting whites and earthy structured reds, I do love Nerello Mascalese from Etna in Sicily.

Years in industry: <1 in the wine industry or >10 in hospo, so depends on how you look at it.

Previous Life: Restaurant manager/ Night owl / Pool Hustler

Jacob Pors

Cellar Door Wine Specialist

Years in industry: 2 years in wine, 6 years in a liquor store. If you can work in a liquor store you can work anywhere.

Regions worked: Yarra Valley

Favourite wine: Spanish Tempranillo

Previous life: Studied creative writing and counselling before entering the world of wine!

Character quirk: I have been running Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for over 15 years, including a 10 year long campaign.

Jess Phillipi

Cellar Door Wine Specialist

Years in industry: 2

Regions worked in: Yarra Valley

Main gig: Jess is a jack of all trades, and when not at cellar door you can find them working as a singer, dancer, and actor in live theatre, teaching barre class at the gym, working in digital marketing and social media management, or working at Mecca Cosmetica.

Character Quirk: Loves hosting a dinner party and can whip up a seriously good vegan dish! Parent to a 18 year old cat and will happily show photos on request. Jess is also a huge horror film fan.

Merlot

Chief Cuddle Officer

Belongs to: The Dolans

Years at winery: 3

Quirk: Loves a dip in the fountain and drying off on customers at cellar door, doesn’t understand the definition of no

Larry

Cellar Door Fountain Lifeguard

Belongs to: Ben

Years at winery: 1

Quirk: Loves to play-wrestle with the other dogs. It's a quick competition given Larry's large size, he will show off his victory by sitting on his opponent.

Hector

King of the Barrel Room

Belongs to: Meg

Years at winery: 1

Quirk: Loves finding hiding places around the winery!

Hermes

Guardian of the Laboratory

Belongs to: Peta

Years at winery: 6

Quirk: Serial puppy biter, sits at the table like a human in the lunch room