Jack Burston & Peter Douglas
Australia
Two Coonawarra greats outsmarting corporate skullduggery
Australia
Two Coonawarra greats outsmarting corporate skullduggery
546 Ratings
223 Followers
What Peter doesn’t know about Coonawarra isn’t worth knowing. His first winemaking job was at the iconic Wynns winery in the 1980s, where he quickly climbed the ladder to become Senior Winemaker for both Wynns and the local Penfolds Lindemans wines. Global vintages followed before he headed back to his beloved Coonawarra as a consultant and contract winemaker.
Grape grower Jack’s biggest customers were corporations with big wine brands. Trouble was, they paid peanuts for his gorgeous grapes and then disappeared completely when the China Tariff Crisis hit.
Thanks to Naked backing, the two were able to get together. “Peter’s finally making the wines he really wants to, without others looking over his shoulder, and my grapes are living up to their full potential!” Jack told us. And you get their exclusive wine. Win, win!
Australia
Barossa champion with his pick of the Valley's grapes
377 Ratings
1,006 Followers
Jason has built Schwarz Wine Co into a 5 star winery, but he didn’t start out as a winemaker. Growing up on his father’s vineyard, he thought he was better suited to selling wine than making it. But working holidays in famous far off wine regions quickly changed all that. As the grape juice stained his skin, he realised his calling was making, not marketing.
Back in his Barossa backyard, Jason worked in local wineries to soak up skills from the region's finest winemakers. It solidified his passion for small-batch, hand-crafted wines from old Barossa vines — and a deep respect for the families who tend them.
“My small-batch wines are not mainstream, they’re new-age expressions of Barossa classics, designed to allow the fruit to speak for itself and tell a story through the glass. I hope you’ll agree,” says Jason. And thanks to the Angels, you can now try this special wine for yourself!
Australia
The multi award-winning winemakers who loved the Angels so much, they changed their entire business to be part of Naked
4,701 Ratings
2,634 Followers
The team at Stratford Vineyard have been successfully making excellent wines for many years. The vineyard has been awarded over 700 awards in the last six years including winery of the year, double gold, gold, silver and bronze medals in Australia and International wine shows.
Chances are, you’ve heard of Stratford Vineyard before - only then they were known by a different name. They first joined Naked’s Stop the Squeeze program with the Lagoon View wines that were caught up in the China tariff crisis. The relationship was intended to be temporary. Then something very special happened.
Both the Stratford team and the Angels adored one another so much, the team decided to be part of Naked exclusively… and permanently. So here they are, using their actual vineyard’s name, with Naked for good! May we introduce vineyard co-owners Barbara and Sam Gallo and their winemaker, Glenn Eberbach - our newest team behind Stratford Vineyard.
Brian’s passion for a life in wine was inspired by his Dad, and a glass of 1983 Dom Perignon that ‘blew me away’. The pair shared a dream to start a wine business together, but his father passed away too soon and they never got the chance.
When it came to choosing his career, Brian couldn’t go past winemaking. Not just because it sounded awesome, but because his Dad would have been stoked to have a son who was a winemaker.
After a 3 year hiatus from a stellar career making wine with his best mate, Angels have given Brian a second chance to get back in the game he loves so dearly. He couldn’t be happier or more grateful!
Australia
Father and son team, cool climate specialists in Great Southern and Victoria
977 Ratings
1,276 Followers
Father, Mike (‘Babbo’), spent the last 14 vintages at Castelli Estate in Denmark, WA, creating wines like their ‘Il Liris’ Chardonnay that won Best White in the 2020 AND 2021 International Wine & Spirit Competition. He’s in demand with other leading WA wineries like Rockcliffe, Singlefile and Plantagenet too.
Mike’s son Callum (‘Mimmo’) is snapping eagerly at his heels - an up-and-coming winemaker in his own right. He’s already up to his ears in grape juice, learning the ropes from one of the real characters of the business in Geelong.
Now, thanks to the backing of thousands of appreciative Angels across Australia, they can come together to create outstanding cool climate wines from the juiciest vineyards in WA's Great Southern region, and Victoria. “That’s so precious and it wouldn’t have happened for many years without the Angels.” says Mike. That's why the wines are just for you.
Australia
Creating modern reds from a lovingly restored vineyard
116 Ratings
1,052 Followers
Jane’s been entrenched in the wine industry since the mid ‘80s, either making it, buying it, selling it or writing about it. And she’s loved every minute of it.
Mark’s a 40-year veteran of the wine industry, making world-class wine for Matua Valley, Fosters and Cellarmasters in his time. Nowadays, he’s the chief winemaker, global, at Treasury Wine Estates.
Australia
Clare Valley legends bringing their iconic wines to Angels
2,327 Ratings
1,022 Followers
The Pikes have been growing grapes and making wine in the Clare Valley since 1984, although the family was woven into the South Australian wine industry well before then. Ever popular with Aussie wine lovers, their winery scooped up the Halliday "People's Choice" award for both 2022 AND 2023!
Since those early days, renowned viticulturist Andrew and his family have built the business into an enviable Halliday 5-star winery. Their celebrated range of wines are critically acclaimed and have won a couple of ’best in show’ trophies over the years.
Now Andrew and his son Jamie are bringing you elegant and Naked-exclusive cool-climate gems from Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills to sip and savour!
Australia
Proud 5th generation grower and winemaker from Victorias Great Western wine region
694 Ratings
981 Followers
Hamish is a proud 5th generation grower and winemaker from one of Australia’s oldest wine families. He helped build Best’s Wines into a James Halliday 5-star winery, making multi award-winning wines.
Like most dyed-in-the-wool wine kids, Hamish started out scrubbing barrels and pruning hundreds of unruly vines. As the years passed, his responsibilities grew and he learnt the business inside out and back to front, including a vintage in France to round out his experience.
Hamish loves the whole process of making world-class wine and its connection with a place, but it's the people who drink his wine that really make his day.
Australia
Making sensational wines from sustainable vineyards in the Murray Darling wine region.
93,138 Ratings
7,016 Followers
Paige has a heritage that stretches back to German settlers who were growing grapes and making wine here in the 1890s, but she didn't know that until recently! She lives on a vineyard in McLaren Vale with Mum Jenny, surrounded by fantastic old bush vines.
Paige is a shining example of today’s young winemaking talent. In 2017, her first Rose made the list of Hot 100 Wines in South Australia. Her wines sing of the land where the grapes were grown - well-managed sustainable vineyards the popular Murray Darling wine region. Delicious and with vegan credentials to boot, they represent incredible value for money!
Getting Naked is a real thrill for Paige and she can't wait to hear from the Angels - "Education and interaction with wine lovers and people who are just starting to dip their toe into wine is the best part of my career, and the part that impassions me.”