Any farming is of course beholden to the weather, and particularly for any of us in South Australia, that is highlighted by our dependence on rainfall. Always reliant on the rhythm of the seasons, for any small producer or grower, there is also the issue of diversity and how to stand out in the world of ‘big business’, but I do think that it is more a matter of lateral thinking to see that being small-scale equates to being more exclusive and that is always a bonus. Everyone loves discovering a hidden gem, and that especially applies to food and wine. Getting your name out there on the back of true substance is the key, not always easy to achieve, but the Barossa has a wonderful reputation for its ethos in supporting local producers, so it has always felt like a head start just being here to me! -MB