Tom Keelan
SMALL-BATCH REVOLUTIONARY
Tom Keelan is on a crusade. He’s taking on global wine giants with his handcrafted, small-batch wines that reflect their origins and let alternative varieties shine.
The name of Tom’s wine label, Pawn Wine Co, is laden with meaning. When a deal fell through with a large wine company who was going to buy grapes from Tom’s vineyard, Tom was inspired to start his own business, and champion small wineries who he says sometimes feel like pawns in the global wine game. He would handcraft every bottle of wine, showcase unusual grape varieties and support the ‘little guys’ – the small, artisanal, family-run businesses of Australia’s wine community.
From little things big things grow
Tom is an award-winning winemaker, but his background is in viticulture, so it’s not surprising that his winemaking philosophy is all about reflecting what happens in the vineyard.
“I come from a family of green thumbs, so I was born to have soil under my nails and grow something green out of the ground,” he says.
After studying agricultural science, Tom managed vineyards in the Adelaide Hills and nearby Langhorne Creek wine regions. In 2002, he established the Pawn Wine Co., producing his wines at the Matilda Plains Winery in the Adelaide Hills, which he shares with his wife Rebecca who runs Bremerton Wines.
“I think the Australian wine industry wouldn't be anything without the small, boutique, handmade wines from the Adelaide Hills and other regions,” says Tom.
When he started his label, Tom wanted to put the spotlight on alternative varieties that originated in Europe and thrive in the Adelaide Hills, producing fresh, vibrant, food-friendly wines.
“Varieties like Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Montepulciano… they’re the things that get me out of bed in the morning and get me running into the winery to see what I can do to make a better wine and create something unique,” he says.
Most recently, Tom released a Maturana Tinta wine. This rare red grape variety hails from Rioja in Spain, where it almost became extinct several years ago. Now Tom has produced one of the first Maturana Tinta wines outside of the Rioja region.
His approach in the winery is all about championing old-school, hands-on winemaking. He plunges fermenting wines by hand, uses wild yeasts and minimises additives. It’s an intimate, low-intervention approach. And the result is bright, elegant wines.
“There’s no set recipe, which I love about winemaking,” says Tom. “Every vintage is different and you can’t just go back to last year’s rulebook. Every year is different and that’s exciting.”
“The Australian wine industry wouldn’t be what it is without the small, boutique, family-run wineries.” – Tom Keelan
Disclaimer
This information is presented in good faith and on the basis that Wine Australia, nor their agents or employees, are liable (whether by reason of error, omission, negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any statement, information or advice given via this channel.
