Ministry of Clouds

Bernice Ong and Julian Forwood say, ‘The name Ministry of Clouds symbolises the relinquishing of our past security and structure (ministry) for the beguiling freedom, independence and adventure (clouds) inherent in our own venture'. I doubt whether there are two partners in a relatively young wine business with such extraordinary experience in sales and marketing of wine, stretching back well over 20 years. They bypassed owning vineyards or building wineries, instead headhunting key winemakers in the Clare Valley and Tasmania for riesling and chardonnay respectively, and the assistance of Tim Geddes at his winery in McLaren Vale, where they make the red wines. In 2016 they took the plunge and purchased part of the elevated Seaview block adjacent to Chapel Hill, Samuels Gorge, Coriole and Hardys' Yeenunga Vineyard, with 7ha of shiraz and 2ha of cabernet sauvignon. They have enlisted the very experienced Richard Leaske to help manage the vineyard. Exports to the UK, Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.