William Downie

William Downie is like the godfather of minimal intervention, site-specific pinot noir in Australia! He's got this amazing following of fans who practically worship the ground he walks on, considering him the pioneer of the natural wine movement Down Under. But hey, Bill (that's what his buddies call him) isn't one for titles; he's just a humble guy who's crazy passionate about his land and his wines.

His journey started at the top, rubbing elbows with the legendary pinot noir producer Phillip Jones at Bass Phillip in Leongatha, Gippsland. Then, he rocked it as senior winemaker at De Bortoli, all while quietly crafting some of the yummiest pinot noir in Yarra Valley, Gippsland, and the Mornington Peninsula under his own label since 2003.

Oh, and get this: in the early 2000s, Bill even jetted off to Burgundy for some harvest action, learning the ropes from the best at Domaines Fourrier and Hubert Lignier. And when Romain Lignier passed unexpectedly in 2004, guess who stepped in to lead the winemaking team? Yup, our man Downie! So, if you ever stumble upon some 2005 Domaine Hubert Lignier wines, just know that Bill had a big hand in those beauties.

Eventually, Bill waved goodbye to De Bortoli to give his full attention to his own label. He ditched grapes from all over Victoria to focus solely on Gippsland, a treasure trove of potential east of the Yarra Valley. Alongside his talented wife Rachel (who's not only a wine whiz but also a yogurt and cheese queen), they run their own farm called Guendulain, plus tend to other plots all over Gippsland. And guess what? They're all about pinot noir, baby! Now, that's what I call dedication!