A tale of good taste and the search for emerging varieties
The story of Judy and Glen Kelly
Artwine is owned by Judy and Glen, two live-in-the-moment lovers of Mediterranean style wines, who decided to leave the worlds of banking, research, and marketing behind, and turn their obsession with emerging varieties into a successful business and way of life.
In 2008 when they established the Artwine brand, the Mediterranean varieties they adored were few and far between. What better way to expand than by planting, growing and producing the very wines they were so passionate about?
Fast forward to today and this fun-loving couple are the hearts and grape-stained hands behind the largest range of emerging varieties commercially available. They’re completely enamoured with what they’ve managed to build from the ground up and can’t wait to welcome you to their cellar door so you can experience (and taste) it all first hand.
The story of Artwine
The Artwine cellar door is on Bird in Hand Road in Woodside, in the Adelaide Hills. Glen and Judy purchased the vineyard in 2011, before building their home and cellar door in 2013.
The story behind the ‘Artwine’ name is a triptych, drawn from a combination of Glen and Judy’s personal interests, their business philosophy, and a slice of Australia’s winemaking history:
• Glen and Judy share a deep love of both art and wine
• they wanted to create artisan wines from emerging varieties
• the first wine medal ever given to an Australian wine was awarded to Gregory Blaxland—one of Australia’s first farmers to plant grapes for wine-making purposes—at the London Art Show.
While Artwine’s focus on Mediterranean style wines was born of Glen and Judy’s passion for them, their philosophy around them has much deeper roots. They believe whole-heartedly these ‘old world’ wines are the ‘emerging’ future of wine in Australia. They’re food-friendly, lighter in style, and have a complexity of flavour that will awaken even the most seasoned palates. Not only that, but their ideal growing conditions are mirrored here in the Adelaide Hills and the Clare Valley, meaning they not only thrive here, but can be sustainably grown, lessening the impact on our land. By owning the vineyards they are able to ensure the best fruit flavours are available to make their outstanding wines.
Our wines are estate grown, single vineyard, minimal sulphites and vegan.
Learn more about our vineyards
Not just a pretty face
While we certainly don’t do it for the accolades, it sure is nice to be recognised for whipping up some award-winning wines! In the space of just a few short years, the team at Artwine has been the proud recipients of 38 trophies, including Wine of Show, Best White and International Judges wine to watch for our 2018 Grüner Veltliner at the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show and in 2022 and 2019 Best Alternative White at the Sydney Royal for our Wicked Stepmother Fiano. In 2021 our Grumpy Old Man Grenache was awarded an Australian Single Vineyard Wine Show trophy for ‘Best Single Vineyard Other Red Variety’ and we were honoured with the prestigious Chair of Judges Award, Clare Valley for our 2020 Cabernet Franc and Best Other Red for our Hola Tempranillo from the Aust & NZ Boutique Wine Awards.
BUT....... our BIGGEST and most triumphant year yet has been 2022 with a massive 7 trophies awarded 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
We have won the following:
- Best Other Red -ANZ Boutique Wine Awards - Pack Leadrer Cabernet Franc 21
- Best Other White - ANZ Boutique Wne Awards - In the Groove,Grüner Veltliner 2022
- Best Alternative White - Sydney Royal Wine Show - Wicked Stepmother Fiano 2022
- Best Rosé - Sydney Royal Wine Show - Temptress Rosé 2022
- Best Grüner Veltliner - Adelaide Hills Wine Show - In the Groove Grüner Veltliner 2022
- Best Other Red - Australian Single Vineyard Wine Show - Pack Leader Cabernet Franc 2021
- AND ........... The Winestate Magazine Best White Alternative of the Year (we had 3 in the top 5 - with Gruner taking the trophy but Arneis and Fiano close behind).
Visit us at our Cellar Door, 72 Bird-in-Hand Road, Woodside SA 5244