The vineyard.
The vineyard is where our ambition is tested: to grow exceptional fruit in the cool southern reaches of Margaret River and make wines with purity, vitality, depth and originality.
The character of the south.
Karridale is more than our address. Ocean influence, wind, rain and a cooler growing season shape what can thrive here and how the fruit develops.
Our home vineyard was planted by Ben in 1997, when he was nineteen. Its traditional and alternative varieties are an ongoing exploration of what can speak most clearly of this place.
We farm the space between the vines, too.
The ground between the rows is managed as deliberately as the vines themselves. Each year we adapt our approach to the season and the needs of each block—sowing multispecies cover crops, grazing sheep and rolling or crimping plant material back into the soil.
Soil testing helps us understand what the vineyard needs and replace nutrients removed through harvest. Our aim is to keep living roots in the ground, return organic matter and encourage natural systems that reduce our reliance on chemical inputs—while growing fruit with purity, vitality and depth.
Living ground
01
Multispecies cover crops help suppress weeds, protect the soil and keep living roots between the vines. Sheep graze at different stages, from after harvest to before seeding or rolling, depending on the season.
Returning what we take
02
We make compost from tree biomass, grape marc and by-products from the local abalone farm. Balancing carbon-rich brown matter with nitrogen-rich green matter creates compost suited to the needs of our soils. Soil testing guides how we return nutrients such as potassium that leave the vineyard with each harvest.
Diversity at work
03
Flowering cover crops feed bees and beneficial insects. Beehives support pollination, while selected plants provide habitat where beneficial species can overwinter. Together, these relationships help us build a more resilient vineyard.
Every decision we make here is guided by the wine the fruit might become. We seek purity, vitality, depth and originality, wines that carry the character of Karridale and the season into the glass.