Panther's Patch Wines

Hakan and Virginia Holm acquired the 10ha property and its abandoned vineyard in 2009 as a country retirement retreat. Little did they know about the effort required to rehabilitate the vineyard and look after the rest of the property, they confess. 2012 saw the first vintage, and they decided to enter the wine in the Orange Wine Show, where they were awarded a silver medal, each and every successive vintage winning some award. They named the vineyard after the 5-week-old black barb kelpie puppy dropped on their doorstep shortly after they acquired the vineyard. Panther keeps the place clear of rabbits, foxes, cockatoos, etc, and most of the vineyard work is done by Hakan and Virginia (the exception is vintage, when a contractor transports the grapes to the highly experienced Madrez Wine Services). -JAMES HALLIDAY