David Lowe – Lowe Wine Co (Mudgee) – Winemaker of Ashbourne & Louee
One of Australia’s leading wine industry figures, David Lowe represents the six generation of the Lowe Family, Graziers who settled in 1829 at ‘Tinja’ in the Mudgee region of NSW. After graduating from Roseworthy with a Bachelor of Agriculture (Oneology), David was appointed the assistant winemaker at the prestigious Rothbury Estate in the Hunter Valley working for two titans of the wine industry, Len Evans and Murray Tyrrell. Through turbulent but rewarding times, David progressed to become chief winemaker and group vineyard manager, significantly expanding Rothbury’s production through innovative viticulture that included trellising, canopy management, fruit irrigation and water management.
David is also a wine consultant and an accredited wine show judge, regularly participating at national shows, a prominent wine industry advocate and holds several key positions including President, NSW Wine Industry Association; executive member of the Winemakers Federation of Australia; member of the strategic NSW Ministers Wine Advisory Council.
A pioneering ‘flying’ winemaker with a penchant for Bordeaux, David is a passionate supporter of smart farming, rural land custodianship and regionalism.
He claims he has no skills relevant to urban environments.
Simon Gilbert – Gilbert Family Wine Co – Winemaker of Gilbert by Simon Gilbert
Simon Gilbert is a 5th generation winemaker, and since graduating in Oenology in 1977 has been wine making ever since. Early in his career, he enjoyed respected and admired positions at Lindemans and Arrowfield at which he also had longevity and great success. His ambition then led him to establish Simon Gilbert Wines, of which he was Managing Director & Winemaker until the company went public in 1999.
Simon’s has long nurtured the dream to establish a boutique family wine label that will experience the same success, longevity and admiration as his own career.
The promise for this is highly accentuated by the fact that Simon’s 21 year old son Will is also now studying the art of winemaking himself. In 2010 Gilbert by Simon Gilbert was established. Gilbert by Simon Gilbert is a boutique, family label that encapsulates the Gilbert family.
He has mentored many younger winemakers that are now enjoying great success as well as cultivated a love of wine and a spirit of excellence wherever he is…whether that be at work, or purely enjoying a glass around the dinner table.
Samuel Haig Coverdale – Even Keel – Winemaker of Even Keel
Sam Coverdale grew up in northern New South Wales and South East Queensland. Despite the notable lack of vineyards in these regions, he cultivated a desire to make wine, and completed a winemaking degree at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. Sam has gained over ten years experience working in wine regions throughout Australia, France, Spain, and also Italy, which has led to his individual, yet versatile, winemaking style.
Sam loves the rewards reaped at the end of each season and even the inevitable bouts of frustration, everything from the planting of the vine to the uncapping of the bottle and the clinking of glasses. He takes pleasure in the challenging blend of agriculture, science and marketing. Even Keel embodies Sam’s balanced approach to life and wine.
