Real wine, real food and real people have always been their moto. Sitting and chatting to Judy and Phillip, the owners of Angas Plains Wines, their brand is just right! 

Phillip tells me that he had bought the land as it is not far from where he grew up. Initially it was used for sheep and cereal growing. In the early 90’s they had the opportunity to buy into the water pipeline. Land is always worth more with water than without, and it was the start of the viticultural boom. A couple wineries around the area asked him if he would plant under contract to them, which he thought was a great way to make the most of the pipeline. He started planting the vines in 1994. Progressively Phillip and Judy planted 8 acres, then the next 8 acres and so on. Judy came along in the late 90’s and joined Phillip in planting, so they would take in turns to who’s next 8 acres was to be planted! They continued planting until 2002.

What was the inspiration for Angas Plains Wines?

We both like red wine, Judy and I, so we thought we’d find out what really did make a good red wine, not just what people told us. 

We won a gold medal with our first red wine in 2002, then a gold medal with our first Shiraz in 2003. By this stage we were hooked on making red wine! From here we made sparkling, reserves and continued on from there.

Initially we had a winemaker making our wines, but we have evolved into the two of us pairing up and becoming both the viticulturalists and the winemakers. 40% of Angas Plains Wines was originally shipped off to China, which has recently changed, and has seen Phillip adjusting and making different varieties, like his recent Cabernet Sauvignon Ros.

Phillip’s working background is in metallurgy, and also has an agricultural background growing up on the land. “I tell everyone if you know a little about acids and bases and fermentation then it’s not hard to pick up the winemaking side of it” says Phillip.

They have a strong belief that if you can grow great grapes, and select the right barrels, you are already halfway there. The less you have to do in the winemaking side the better, but of course in bad years, the story is very different. Judy tells me, “Great wine comes from a great vineyard.”

Their lovely cellar door and winery was built in 2005 and opened in 2006. Progressively developing over the years using a lot of re-purposed materials. (Insert photo of winery door)

Have you always lived in this part of the Fleurieu?

Phillip:

I grew up a few kms away from Angas Plains Wines. As a young adult I headed to Adelaide to study and work. I was working in the automotive industry, and the industry was a little unreliable, always wondering if I would have a job the next week. I figured I needed a backup plan, and since my family were only a few kms away, decided that land nearby was a good idea…. even if it was just to borrow my dad’s equipment! Not sure my dad thought it was such a good idea J I started with sheep and cereal, until the water pipeline came through.

Judy:

I grew up at Waikerie on a citrus farm and qualified in administration/accounting. I have worked for a variety of large family-owned businesses such as Jurlique beauty products and Lauke Flour Mills.

Working in such an industry and location is pretty special. What is it that makes you proud of the place you live and work?

Having good quality wine! We like that we have created a warm, friendly and relaxed place for couples and families to come and enjoy. We love live music and enjoy having events here out on the lawn when possible. We have moved to having twilight music events, which makes a lovely atmosphere. Our families come through after sport and can still get back home before it’s too late. We were the first cellar door in Langhorne Creek to offer a full meal on a plate rather than only shared platters. We are proud of what we have created

We have both come from the corporate world to plant a vineyard, have made the wine originally under contract, created a label and opened our cellar door. What’s there not to be proud of? This has all been done in half a generation.

Working in the wine industry must have its moments (good and bad!), what’s the most memorable?

We have been fortunate to travel overseas in this industry, there is so much to see and to learn from others. You can be in any country and meet people that want to talk about wine! It’s good to be able to visit wineries and cellar doors around the world and experience the other side of the counter, to see what is on offer and what is not. You can learn a lot from others.

Highlights were visiting France on a wine tour and also visiting China for a marketing presentation. The China trip was 10 cities in 12 days! The food over this trip was unbelievable, we experienced so much more travelling with our distributor than we would have if we had decided to do a regular tourist trip.

Meeting the people that come through the door is the most memorable part of this industry. We meet a lot of well-travelled people which is very interesting but also gives us an important benchmark for how we fit in the world stage with how we do things. Being in the cellar door is a lot more than just selling wine!

On a more personal note, tell us a little about yourself and what you love to do out of work.:

“Eating!” says Phillip. Judy says family is very important. She would like to say playing golf is what she loves to do. Over the years she has added to her golf clubs with a golf buggy, but all are nicely lined up in the office taking up room and not being used. They also have their electric bikes, but they are also in the shed! 

When possible, they do head to Glenelg and get the dust off the bikes, just to have a break away from working together every day.

What is something many locals would not know about you?

Maybe that we were both in corporate roles before running our vineyard and winery. Much of our cellar door is re-purposed and built by us.

YOUR TOP TIPS for the Fleurieu Peninsula / Kangaroo Island:

Best place to....

• Grab a quick bite…

Angas Plains Wines Cellar Door! 

·      Have a more serious feed…

If we head to Goolwa, we love to go across to the Hindmarsh Island Tavern.

• Get a cuppa, a beer or wine…

Our cellar door and the Langhorne Creek Hotel

• Go for a dip…

Port Elliot Horseshoe Bay

• Explore nature…

Kangaroo Island we love to visit.

When I’m on the Fleurieu and/or KI, I…

• feel…

lucky that our region is so good…attractive and pretty and so much diversity.

• always make sure I visit… 

wineries!

• stock up on… 

wine!

Best memory of being here:

Returning after living in the city says Phillip. Star gazing in our back yard says Judy.

My best piece of advice for anyone heading to the region: 

Be able to take more time than you think you need. There is more to see and do than you think.

Be open to what is available. There are so many more things to do…. more than you have ever thought of.