Fighting Gully Road

Mark Walpole (who began his viticultural career with Brown Brothers in the late 1980s) and partner Carolyn De Poi found their elevated north-facing site south of Beechworth in 1995. They commenced planting the Aquila Audax Vineyard in '97 with cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir, subsequently expanding with significant areas of sangiovese, tempranillo, shiraz, petit manseng and chardonnay. In 2009 they were fortunate to lease the oldest vineyard in the region, planted by the Smith family in 1978 to chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon - in fact, Mark shares the lease with long-time friend Adrian Rodda (see A. Rodda Wines). Says Mark, ‘We are now making wine in a building in the old and historic Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum - a place that should be full of winemakers!' Exports to Hong Kong.