HUNTER VALLEY WINEMAKER Karin Adcock, Winmark Wines

KARIN ADCOCK Winmark Wines

WORDS CATHARINE RETTER If you prefer your Hunter Valley fine wines in a quiet, peaceful setting, go for Broke. That’s what prompted Danish-born Karin Adcock to purchase what was then Pooles Rock Vineyard, now renamed Winmark Wines (Danish for ‘field of vines’), in Broke.

The Broke-Fordwich region of the Hunter lies at the south-western end of the Hunter Valley, away from the main tourist traffic and is known for its smaller, boutique wineries. There is, of course, still an immovable Pooles Rock on the Winmark property, named after the monolith that the former convict, Richard Poole, was known to escape to for a safe sleep. (As a monolith, it is a very miniature cousin to other famous rocks such as Uluru, the Rock of Gibraltar, and El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.)

Although the undeniably picturesque nature of the vineyard certainly appealed to Karin Adcock, the successful (Pandora jewellery) businesswoman also saw the potential in the 11 hectares of vines that had been neglected by the previous short-term owners, AGL Energy. The company purchased the vineyard after the death of Macquarie Bank co-founder, David Clarke, the original owner of Pooles Rock, Cockfighter’s Ghost and Firestick Wines.

Karin is quick to acknowledge that her background in wines and vineyards only came from the perspective of someone who enjoyed wines and the romanticised lifestyle that vineyard ownership represented.

‘When I purchased Winmark, I didn’t want to spend 20 years learning from my mistakes,’ she says. ‘And I knew I wanted to listen to some of the best in the business. I have a wonderful team: international vintner, John Belsham; viticulturist, Liz Riley; local winemaker, Xanthe Hatcher; and vineyard manager, Dave Grosser, whose father planted some of the first vines on the original property.’

Taking their advice, vines on key blocks of the vineyard were nurtured back to full vitality, while other blocks that were too close to steep hillsides or tall forests to be nursed back to full health and productivity were pulled out and given over to grasslands, fruit and olive tree plantings, and landscaped gardens.

The result is a picturesque, working vineyard that is once again producing fine chardonnays – harvested at night so the juice is not heat-affected. The results of the first vintage produced Rusty’s Run Chardonnay, matured in stainless steel after an initial oak fermentation; and the single vineyard Reserve Chardonnay, selected from the vineyard’s best grapes, fermented and matured in French oak barrels for 12 months.

‘We still deliver our grapes to the owners of the Pooles Rock, Cockfighter’s Ghost and Firestick wineries, so that is a nice continuity, too,’ says Karin.

Why put all your grapes into one wine variety?

‘The property already did chardonnay really well, and we wanted to build on that so that people who like chardonnay could depend on getting something really special here. We also wanted to keep out the ‘tyre kickers’ who will drink anything, but are not really interested in buying,’ Adcock admits with a smile.

Karin learnt the benefits of listening to and learning from others in her first job in Denmark as a project manager for a property group and, later, with large firms across the world.

‘They were challenging and interesting projects,’ says Karin. ‘I just had to work out what to do, and I learnt not to be daunted by the size of the task. It’s from this that I also got my appetite for country properties.’

After moving to Australia, Karin developed a business selling jewellery into people’s homes.

‘It meant I quickly had to get to know Sydney and then Australia-wide geography to know which suburbs were suited to our jewellery,’ she says. ‘The business grew to 120 consultants, many of whom had never been in a sales role before. I had to train them in how to close a sale, and to dare to ask for the booking, and to make it all happen.’

It was the perfect training ground for Karin to start up the Pandora jewellery business in Australia in 2004.

‘There was no branded, accessibly jewellery in Australia, so we were the first of its kind in the marketplace. We listened and evolved and reacted to what the market was telling us.

‘The bracelets became a talking point among friends and even strangers. It brought people together, and men loved it because the charms were easy to purchase and represented a thoughtful gift that could reflect the life experiences and interests of the recipient.

‘And unlike a traditional charm bracelet, you didn’t need to go to a jeweller to have the charm added to your bracelet, so initially it was sold in gift stores until, after a couple of years, jewellers, too, saw its potential. And we also opened our own stores and franchises.’

The rest is history. Australian sales outstripped those in the UK by 200 per cent, and the US by 300 per cent. When the Danish »

ART IN THE VINES

David Ball’s imposing Biosis sculptures are among those that are now part of the landscape for all to enjoy, as well as Swedish artist Erik Flygenring Christensen’s Portals of Illusion.

PORTALS OF ILLUSION BIOSIS

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

NEW WINGS FOR ANGEL WITH WINGS CLIPPED PART 1

PODS

INSIDE THE GALLERY

Works by modern realist, James Ainslie. Layered contemporary abstracts by Felicia Aroney. Ceramics by Katarina Wells. Whimsical copper sculptures of ghost gumtrees by lapsed biologist Ulan Murray and his wife Rachel Burns. Talented and diverse paintings and sculptures by Rebecca Pierce. Award-winning works by sculptor, Michael Purdy. And more.

And, of course, how could Karin Adcock not resist, grape-and-vine-inspired silver and gold jewellery in collaboration with Norwegian jewellery brand, TuaMea.

STRAWHENGE GWENDOLINE

parent company bought back the Australian operation, it could just have cancelled Karin’s distribution contract, but in recognition of her contribution to the company’s remarkable success, it rewarded her efforts. She stayed on as CEO for another three years and was invited onto the global management team.

‘It meant trips to Europe every three months and, in the end, the toll on my family was too high for me to continue.’ says Karin. ‘When the company listed on the stock exchange, it was the right time to leave.

‘After being so busy for so long, I was scared of doing nothing and I launched into new business ventures a little too soon,’ she admits.

It was because of those more recent experiences that Karin sought the tranquillity of a country escape that led to the purchase of the 46-hectare Pooles Rock vineyard in 2016.

‘It’s also for those reasons that I wanted to make Winmark Wines more than only a cellar door experience. I want people to enjoy the property like I do, to connect to it and feel free to wander through the grounds and along the walking trail; to look at the beautiful roses in bloom at the end of each row of vines; to picnic under the trees, and to stay in the cottages.’

Karin has a vision and passion for the property’s potential. The grounds have been delightfully landscaped by pre-eminent garden designer, Paul Bangay, and the cottages and main residence renovated and refurbished. A storage shed has had a dramatic makeover into an inviting and welcoming cellar door with picturesque views over the vines and an al fresco seating area. A sculpture walk also continues to expand across the property. Karin has always loved art and has been an avid collector on her many travels: a painting from Nice, a whole series of art from Africa, ceramic sculptures from other exotic places, and increasingly, local artists and sculptures. Her beloved treasures spilled over into the three guest accommodation cottages, and when they, too, had reached capacity, Karin realised she should open an art gallery adjacent to the cellar door.

‘Art, architecture and wine have always gone well together,’ she says. ‘And an art gallery adds to the overall experience that visitors to the cellar door and those staying in the guest cottages can enjoy. We sold 15 pieces in our first two weeks [the gallery opened in February this year]!’

If all that is not enough for an over-achiever, what else does Karin have in mind?

‘I love sharing the house with friends, but I’m not much of a cook,’ she says. ‘I’d like to be able to learn to create dishes from local produce and from what we grow in our vegetable garden here.

‘I’ve been trying my hand at cumquat and rosehip jams under my neighbour’s tuition. At 10pm at night, when it still hasn’t set, I call her up and say, ‘Help, what do I do?’ And her advice? ‘Start early in the morning!’ ‘

Cellar door: Monday to Thursday 11am to 4pm. Friday to Sunday 10am to 5pm.

winmarkwines.com.au/cellar-door winmarkwines.com.au/accommodation winmarkwines.com.au

ART, SCULPTURE WALK & CELLAR DOOR

Spanning 130 breathtaking acres, Winmark is not just a premium Chardonnay producer but a destination. Enjoy a Chardonnay tasting in the Cellar Door overlooking the stunning 28 acre vineyard and explore the Sculpture Park to find spectacular sculptures reaching for the sky, whimsical installations and sculptures inspired by the Australian bush. The newly opened Art Gallery is placed alongside the Cellar Door, connecting art, nature and wine. Owner & Vigneron Karin Adcock has curated the gallery introducing some of the amazing Artists and Sculptors discovered through her travels. Winmark is a place of beauty and unexpected discovery.