Emma Bowen
MASTERING COONAWARRA CLASSICS
The spotlight often falls on people pushing boundaries and starting trends, but for winemaker Emma Bowen, honouring traditions and perfecting classic wines have been key to her success.
On a coveted patch of red soil in South Australia’s famous Coonawarra wine region, Emma crafts celebrated Coonawarra wines – bold Shiraz and powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that age gracefully for decades. The family still bottle their wines under cork and are humble in their self-promotion, preferring to let their renowned wines do the talking.
Staying power
Emma’s parents, Joy and Doug, were on their honeymoon when they bought a piece of land on Coonawarra’s famous terra rossa soil in the early 1970s. Soon after they converted the existing dairy farm into a vineyard.
“They started really from nothing,” says Emma. “And now, 40-odd years later, we have got three blocks on the terra rossa soil and about 100 acres of vines.”
For Emma it was an easy decision to join the family business, where she’s the winemaker and her dad Doug, the viticulturist. The family takes a traditional approach and you won’t find any fads or fancy equipment here. Just handcrafted wines from hand-pruned vines.
Yet innovation and evolution are at the heart of their success. Over the years, there have been big changes and bold decisions made in the vineyard, including changing trellis systems and replanting vines, to improve quality and consistency.
“It’s great to produce great wine, but to have a reputation for producing consistent, high-quality wine year in and year out – that’s what we’re about,” says Emma.
For Emma, who lives in Coonawarra with her husband and young children, wine is as much about connection and the human experience as it is about science and agriculture.
“I love hearing stories about people who have had our wine at their family dinner, or they’ve had it at Christmas … that it’s enhanced someone’s life,” she says. “I love the fact that you can sit down and enjoy wine with friends and family over a long lunch or dinner. I think sitting and talking is a wonderful part of life.”
Her acclaimed wines reflect great skill in the vineyard and the creativity, coupled with scientific expertise that Emma brings to the winemaking process.
“There is certainly science and a lot of love involved in making wine,” she says. “The art is understanding the nuances of the wine and your vineyard and that is a very important part of making a lovely wine.”
“It’s great to produce great wine, but to have a reputation for producing consistent, high-quality wine year in and year out – that’s what we’re about.” – Emma Bowen
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