Oparina Wines

Oparina is the venture of Phil and Debbie Brown (along with father Terry and the 3 3rd-generation Brown children). Phil grew up in the Padthaway region on the family farm, moving to the Barossa Valley to study and then teach agriculture. He returned to the family farm (with newly planted vineyards) in 1998, simultaneously enrolling in (and completing) an oenology degree. The majority of the grapes are sold, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon finding their way into top tier wines such as Penfolds Bin 389, Bin 707 and St Henri. Family and community commitments limited the amount of time he could devote to winemaking and in ’14 Sue Bell of Bellwether Wines was contracted to make the wines, with input from Phil. Further vineyard plantings were made in ’16 with small blocks of less traditional varieties. -JAMES HALLIDAY