Bowen Estate moves on to the next generation

In 1972 when Doug and Joy Bowen founded Bowen Estate near Penola on the red soils of the Coonawarra, it was one of the few wineries based there. Some forty years later, it has become one of the region’s landmarks, still producing the best value reds from the district as they swim against the tide of ever-increasing prices, clearly focused on delivering value-for-money.

Now Doug has “retired” from winemaking entrusting that role to daughter Emma, a graduate in winemaking from the Charles Sturt University in Wagga  and with experience in the Hunter Valley, Mudgee and Burgundy.

The seamless transition, with Doug now as Chief Viticulturist (and also chief lobster gatherer) can be seen with the wines from the 2011 vintage, which have caught the attention of The Independent’s wine critic, Anthony Rose, who wrote about the 2011 Bowen Cabernet Sauvignon: "A berry-scented, elegantly expressed Aussie red polished with a delicate brush of vanilla oak and a touch of herb". 

The Bowen heritage is in good hands!