Paige McArdle
Australia
Making sensational wines from sustainable vineyards in the Murray Darling wine region.
-
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.”
- Glenn Barry is a South Australian wine wizard, an ex-chief winemaker for Knappstein and a highly respected wine show judge. His philosophy of ‘no boring wines’ ensures a fantastically flavoured flourish in every bottle.
He’s had a stellar career working vintages in big wineries in Italy, the US and Canada, as well as here in Australia. When he tired of years sleeping on other folks' couches, he settled down in South Australia and worked his way up the ranks to Chief Winemaker.
With a ton of medals under his belt and all the right connections, he’s struck out on his own. Now he makes his own wines for us that are fun and interesting to drink. And you can be the judge of that!
Coby Ladwig
Australia
Young Gun shining the spotlight on special pockets of deep south WA
19,551 Ratings
2,322 Followers
Brought up in the southern wilds of Western Australia, Coby spent endless hours amongst the vineyards where his Mum worked. It was no surprise he was headed for the winemaking life! With a degree under his belt, he returned to his hometown “to seek out the very best, small sub-region sites to make exceptional single-vineyard wines that can compete with the best in the world.”
Over the next sixteen years, he used his silky winemaking skills to help the stunning West Cape Howe, Singlefile and Rockcliffe wineries earn 5-Star ratings from wine critics far and wide. And in 2017, he earned a Top 50 spot on the highly regarded Young Gun of Wine list.
- In 2018, thanks to the support of Angels, Coby became a liberated Naked winemaker with the freedom to handcraft small-volume boutique wines, just for you. And the same remains true today, “We always want to over deliver. It’s really exciting to be part of the Naked wines community,” he says with pride!
Drew Tuckwell
Australia
An award-winning winemaker who's been handcrafting expressive wines for over 30 years
4,296 Ratings
882 Followers
- Drew Tuckwell’s Kollectiv is just that. A collective effort by the winemaker, the grape growers of the Orange region, barrel makers, the cellar staff, the Naked Wines Team and you, Naked Angels. Without this collective effort, these wines would not exist.
- For nearly 20 years Drew has been handcrafting regionally and site-specific wines of character from the high-elevation, cool climate region of Orange. This is an area where wines can command up to $150 a bottle!
- The last 15 years alone has seen Drew rack up over 50 National and International Wine Show Trophy Awards while working his day job at one of the most celebrated wineries in the super-premium, super-cool Orange region.
Bart Van Olphen
Australia
Dutchman who came here 15 years ago for one vintage! Fell in love with the vines, and a fellow winemaker.
12,450 Ratings
1,548 Followers
- Bart van Olphen’s wine journey is totally unique. Born and raised among the windmills and tulips of his native Holland, he learned his winemaking craft in Germany’s Pfalz region, honed it in the USA, handmade mighty reds alongside the legend that is Steve Pannell for eight years in McLaren Vale before settling in Victoria.
- Bart is married to Kim Chalmers of the famed Chalmers vineyards and it’s from these excellent family-grown grapes that he sources the most delectable, pristine fruit to power his Angel-exclusive B.V.O range of deliciousness!
- Bart is very much a minimal interventionist winemaker: grow the best fruit, let it talk and stay hands off as much as possible. And with the huge array of Chalmers grapes available to choose from Bart is like a kid in a candy store!
Dan Binet & John Colvin
Australia
Passionate grower who built the vineyard from scratch teaming up with an up and coming superstar winemaker from the Hunter Valley
10,916 Ratings
1,400 Followers
- Two heads are better than one, and when life long passion (John) meets life long winemaking skill (Dan), the result is unimaginably unique and tasty wine that sings like the hidden hills it came from!
- Montvalley’s grapes are meticulously selected with quality at the fore.
- Whether it be their elegant Chardonnay, flavour-packed Shiraz or classic Semillon, filling your glass with Montvalley wine is an experience truly exclusive to Naked. Drift away to your happy place with John and Dan's gorgeous wine, grown in a hidden slice of Hunter Valley heaven.
Kym Carr
Australia
Chosen by Angels to get back into the winemaking game after a 5 year break
21,146 Ratings
3,164 Followers
- In 2015, we put the power in your hands to vote for the first ever Angel chosen winemaker. It took just 4 hours and 16 minutes for Angels to give Kym Carr the thumbs up.
- Kym's story was one of incredible talent, utter heartbreak and unwavering determination... As a young winemaker, Kym had a winemaking world at her feet. She was winemaking for award-winning wineries Vasse Felix and Deep Woods Estate, leading to a nomination for young winemaker of the year in 2006.
- A few years later, Kym's life was monumentally changed by the passing of her younger sister. Her sister's final wish was that she carry on with life, making the most of each day by working towards her passion.
- Now a mother of two, Kym reached out to Naked as she still harboured dreams of jumping back into the wine game to create her own boutique label, packed with unique wines that are happily just a little far left of field for the big wineries.
Judy & Glen Kelly
Australia
An energetic couple thinking outside the box and setting the next Aussie wine trends!
20,646 Ratings
2,589 Followers
- Judy & Glen are serious front runners in the rankings of Australia's most forward-thinking, versatile winemakers.
- They have let their passion lead their numbers, planting over 17 alternative Mediterranean varietals in both their Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills vineyards.
- Aussie wine drinkers are setting the trend when it comes to the next generation of favourites, so jump in to Chateau Coco's world of fun today.
Glen Robert & Andrew Scott
Australia
Naked's inaugural Queensland team, taking artisan winemaking to the next level!
18,158 Ratings
3,285 Followers
- Expected the unexpected from this creative Queensland pair! When Glen and Andrew stumbled upon Shiraz and Viognier vines in need of a little TLC in 2014, they knew they had found the perfect place to begin their La Petite Mort journey.
- Thanks to Angel support, Glen (former research scientist) and Andrew (hospitality guru) have been able to re-vitalise a historic, cool-climate vineyard in the Granite Belt, flexing their sustainable winemaking skills with slow-ripening, hand-picked fruit that packs a flavourful punch!
- From fermenting in terracotta amphora to partially drying grapes, the innovative techniques behind the hidden gems in the La Petite Mort range represent the idea of letting go of restraints and revelling in something new… like Glen and Andrew’s truly artisan wines!
Damien Stevens & Jodie Belleville
Australia
Hunter Valley specialists blazing their own trail
31,302 Ratings
3,909 Followers
- As first-generation winemakers, Damien and Jodie built their award-winning winery from the ground up! Their careers got off to a flying start with their first-ever Semillon named best current vintage Semillon and best current vintage white wine at the Hunter Valley Wine Show in 2010, and they haven’t slowed down since. Today, they have over 9 trophies and 23 gold medals to their name!
- Having honed their skills during vintages at top Hunter Valley wineries like Brokenwood, McGuigan and Briar Ridge, and further afield in the old-world winemaking region of Campania, Italy, the dedicated duo has a truckload of experience up their sleeves.
- Angel support means Damien and Jodie can focus solely on handcrafting regionally definitive wines using the finest locally sourced fruit. Their passion for each unique vintage is undeniable, with each drop in the Fuzzy & May collection reflecting the best techniques and innovation that the Hunter Valley has to offer.
