Maker Of Dreams

What’s in a name? A fair amount if you’re South Australian winemaker Rose Kentish.

- Alan Deans

When she first popped onto the scene in 2008 as someone to be taken seriously by winning McLaren Vale’s Bushing Queen winemaker of the year title, her label was Ulithorne. For 10 years that name, linked to her family vineyard, flourished. But then she made the agonising decision to sell to her business partner. Her acclaimed European style of rosés and reds remain but now they bear her own name to proclaim the fact that she is back to stay.

“When your name is on the label there is nowhere for you to go,” explains Kentish. “I was demanding it of myself this time around. There is no way that I’m going to make that mistake again, to let someone else into a creative pursuit of mine. You have to be extremely patient in the wine industry, for returns. I saw it as something I would still be doing when I was 80 and possibly handing on to my children. Being a bespoke maker, across every aspect of what you do and putting your name to it, I think shows your sincerity and your authenticity. Also, there has to be an element of belief in your ability when you put your name on the front.”

Of course, Australian winemakers have long followed this practice. Philip Shaw, Stephen Henschke and Vanya Cullen are among those who do so, as Wolf Blass and the late Len Evans and Peter Lehmann did before them. It’s a tried-and-true marketing strategy across a range of industries that tie products with personal values such as care, trust and quality.

It says a tremendous amount for Kentish’s commitment and ability that she has remained in wine making and is excelling at it again. “I learned so much through that experience. If you don’t learn, you can end up bitter and twisted. It has been quite a grieving process.”

Just one day after selling Ulithorne, she flew to France with her future course as a winemaker front of mind.