Meet the makers…

WINTER’S best wine event returns to Ballarat on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July.

Coinciding with the commencement of ‘red wine weather’, The Red Series brings the best of Western Victoria’s wine to one iconic location at Ballarat’s historic Mining Exchange.

From famed Shiraz to a range of other varieties (some whites included), this celebration of great wine is a chance to meet the makers and ask all of your wine questions, or just sip and taste at your leisure with friends.

BEST’S GREAT WESTERN:

Jacob Parton

Jacob Parton is the winemaker at Best’s Great Western, joining the team as assistant before stepping into the lead role.

In a short time he has received great reviews and awards for his work, with the Great Western Riesling winning three trophies at the Canberra International Wine Challenge and bringing home the top award, Best Riesling of the show.

However, the Red Series is about bolder (but equally approachable) styles, so it must be mentioned that the flagship wine – Thomson Family Shiraz – holds a prestigious ‘1st Classified’ ranking in Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine.

Wine to taste: Best’s Great Western Bin No. 0 Shiraz

 

BLACK AND GINGER:

Hadyn Black

Hadyn Black has never been all that interested in making the obvious wine.

At Black & Ginger, his approach is built around curiosity – seeking out lesser-known grape varieties, growing and sourcing interesting small-batch fruit and letting the season lead the way.

There’s no rigid formula here, just a genuine belief that wine should be fun, accessible and never take itself too seriously. Hadyn’s philosophy is simple: break down the barriers around unfamiliar varieties, make something delicious and let people discover something new.

Because at the end of the day, it’s just fermented grape juice – and it should taste great.

Wine to taste: Black and Ginger The Virginia Merlot

BLUE PYRENEES ESTATE:

Eden Walpole

With foundations in the Hunter Valley and a career spanning more than 15 years and multiple regions at home and abroad, Eden arrived in the Pyrenees with a breadth of perspective that is relatively rare.

Seventeen vintages in, his focus is on wines that speak honestly about where they come from.

At Blue Pyrenees, this includes 60 years of winegrowing history and a vineyard of remarkable diversity in soils, elevation and character.

Wine to taste: Blue Pyrenees Estate Red.

 

SEPPELT GREAT WESTERN:

Clare Dry

Seppelt lead winemaker Clare Dry brings a thoughtful, highly skilled approach to one of Australia’s most historic wine portfolios.

She leads the Seppelt winemaking team across still and sparkling wines, working with fruit from Great Western, Drumborg and other Victorian regions.

For Clare, the role is about honouring Seppelt’s extraordinary heritage (a history spanning back to 1865) while continuing to craft wines with freshness, precision and a strong sense of place.

Wine to taste: Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz.

 

MT LANGHI GHIRAN:

Adam Louder

Chief Winemaker at Mount Langi Ghiran, Adam Louder was born and raised in the Grampians.

He began his career at Langi in 1998 as a cellar hand under the legendary Trevor Mast, whose mentorship sparked Adam’s passion for cool-climate winemaking.

He went on to gain global experience across the Pyrenees, Margaret River, Bordeaux and Napa Valley, completing 32 harvests. Returning to Langi in 2016, Adam is dedicated to honouring the estate’s legacy while crafting complex, age-worthy wines that reflect the unique character of the Grampians.

Wine to taste: Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz

The Red Series takes place at the Ballarat Mining Exchange across three sessions Friday 17 July (4–7pm) and Saturday 18 July (12–3pm and 4–7pm), with the option of an additional masterclass on the Saturday evening.

Early bird tickets are on sale now at events.humanitix.com/red-series-2026

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