Shotguns and Shiraz
One day my phone rang. And, on the other end of the line was a young lady I’d recently met on an Army promotions course. “I was thinking of going to Mudgee to visit the vineyards, would you like to come?” said the voice. I had recently been up that way and knew a few people in the industry, so I replied: “Yeah sure. Should be fun.”
And it was. Among the most memorable parts was dropping in at one of my favourite vineyards in the area, Lowe Family Wines. Sitting at the table, the owner David Lowe led us through a wine tasting, all the while entertaining us with humorous tales of the business. But the conversation was by no means one-way. He took a keen interest in our backgrounds too. In our early 30s and in the Army Reserve, David was interested to find out what made us tick, including my credentials as an environmental scientist and hunter.
As things transpired, that weekend wine tour made a lasting impression. A few years later, the young lady who had invited me became my wife. And for the past 18 years, we have been enjoying visiting cellar doors together when travelling the highways and byways of this great country.
We have also made a point of
