Owner winemaker Scott Ireland has been involved in the wine industry for over twenty five vintages. Experience gained from extensive travel and work in the wine industry throughout Australia, France and the US led to the desire to create his own brand of wines. Wines representative of their source (provenance), but shaped by his feel for the winemaking craft/ art. Scott is a passionate (surely Richo should get an honorary Brownlow) Tiger supporter who loves nothing more than relaxing on his old wooden boat, glass in hand. The wine industry provides both challenge and solace for him.
Scott's life and business partner, Jen Lilburn (aka 'Prov Queen'), brings a sensibility to Provenance, (mostly by belting Scott around the ears) and keeps the team on the straight and narrow. Together with helping on marketing and business activities for Provenance, Jen runs her own consulting business. Who wants to sit down and relax at night when you can be calculating your BAS statement? How on earth does she do it all?
Kirilly Gordon is usually around making sure the cellar is ship-shape. She brings a tremendous palate and understanding of wine style to the Provenance winemaking team. Five years' experience working in the Macedon Ranges wine region has given her an enviable understanding of cool climate wines. The fact that she is a fine hockey player who could swing a piece of 4 by 2, if she needed to, with deadly precision, only adds weight to her opinions.
The winemaking team is rounded out by Sam Vogel. Sam is at the very end of his winemaking degree and has quickly established himself as a formidible force at the tasting bench and in the manipulation of the beloved San Marino coffee machine. The arrival of his iPod has also changed the cellar dynamic, mostly for the good.
The small portfolio of select Geelong, Ballarat and Tarrington grapegrowers are also an important part of the Provenance story. Guided by Scott, it's their toil that enables the production of distinctive fruit able to be transformed into wines displaying hallmark features of suppleness, length of flavour, texture and power. Provenance Wines are hand-made, powerful and distinctive.
The reality is that Provenance are winemakers, and therefore everything has got to come from the heart. No harps, violins, not even a banjo. And yes it's very possibly true that the sky's going to fall if you don't drink more of their exquisite wine. The passion is always about the wine, Provenance try to make the very best possible. They have the fruit, the team know how and passion to get the results. Bottom line? Provenance wines are independently highly rated, reasonably priced and made with a commitment to producing the absolute best. Here's cheers to great friends, occasions and the magic in the bottle!
"This is one of the best Australian pinot gris’ I’ve tasted. Richly spiced, almost gewürztraminer-like aromas, ripe and pungent. Middleweight and smooth but rich in the mouth, with great persistence and warmth, but also harmony!" -Sydney Morning Herald, "Australian pinot gris is erratic and few approach the quality of the great Alsace wines, but Provenance 2002, from Geelong, is one. Seductive, with aromatic spice, floral and stone fruit elements on nose and palate, it’s medium-bodied, honeyed and silky in the mouth with a long finish. Moreish and very good!" -The Age, "This Geelong wine has a remarkably Alsatian, pungently spicy character. It’s intensely varietal, rich and ripe-smelling. It’s impressively concentrated, yet smooth, with some warmth from high alcohol strength which doesn’t spoil the balance. A full-frontal white!" -Uncorked Magazine
