Behind the vine

Jules Campbell - Campbells Winery - Rutherglen, Australia

When do you think you fell in love with wine, enough to make a career of it?

Wine has been a part of our lives forever. Growing up in Rutherglen, next to the winery and footsteps behind Dad - I have always loved the connection between vineyards and the winery. One of my favourite memories is doing Baume rounds on the fermenting wines up on the tank tops - the aromas of fermenting wines are so intense and different - then watching those characters develop. We are lucky to have grown up in a winemaking situation where we do everything onsite, so we are able to be involved in the whole process from vineyard to bottled wine.

What story does your wine tell?

One of persistence! We are passionate about our region and its ability to produce wines with a sense of place - full bodied whites and reds with a lovely depth of fruit - and then our climate in Rutherglen is known for its stunning long Autumn which allows us to make our treasured fortifieds. We are resilient and need patience - these wines are a product of many years of aging. My generation represents the fifth generation to make wine at Campbells. We are lucky to be able to produce such a range of wines.

What misconceptions about wine do you think people should forget?

Oh - a tricky one - I have a couple here - I think people need to think less about the statement that wine can be damaging to health. Everything in moderation as my Grandmother has always said! And here’s a saying I have heard so many times: ‘don’t waste that wine on me’ from people who don’t consider themselves ‘capable of appreciating’ fine wines. I think that if it tastes good and you like it, then you are absolutely worthy!

What great things about wine do you think people should remember?

Every wine tells a story - perhaps not so much the mass produced versions of wine - but this is certainly true for smaller producers like us. I think we need to respect wine, enjoy it, drink it, but always be mindful that we are sipping on something that has been crafted for us to enjoy, unique to its own time and place.

What is a piece of advice you would give to a woman interested in breaking into the wine world?

Go for it! And don’t take yourself too seriously - make sure you enjoy the journey - and never take for granted the wine in your glass. Most importantly, one that I certainly struggle with is to trust yourself!

Where can women find your wine?

If you’re in Australia, you can shop directly on our site.

In the UK, you can email our distributors at ABS wine. Waitrose supermarkets are also strong supporters of our Rutherglen Muscat.

Who is a women in wine you think everyone should know about?

There are so many women in my little wine world, so many of them are in supporting roles. My mother has been the best support for my Father and so my Nanna for the family also, and my mother in law with her boys too. These are perhaps the unsung heroes of wine as so much of what they do is behind the scenes.

However, if we are talking about winemaking alone, although I haven’t worked closely with that many females, one that I do truly admire for her knowledge and hardworking nature and unsurpassed passion for wine and particularly wines with a sense of place and the community is Louisa Rose of Yalumba.