Good Intentions Wine Co

Good Intentions Wine Co. is a small, family-owned winery in Mount Gambier, South Australia, led by Andrew and Louise Burchell. The winery focuses on minimal intervention winemaking and organic farming to produce wines that express the unique volcanic and limestone-rich terroir of the region.

Winemaking Philosophy & Methods

The core philosophy is to let the land and grapes shine through with as little intervention as possible. The winemaking style is rooted in old-world methods, prioritizing natural processes over modern technology.

  • Vineyard Management: They employ organic farming and permaculture principles, avoiding herbicides and using natural preparations like fermented seaweed sprays and worm castings.

  • Harvest: All fruit is hand-picked to ensure quality and minimize damage to the grapes.

  • Fermentation: The wines undergo open fermentation using only indigenous (ambient) yeasts from the vineyard and winery, which contributes to the wines' unique character and complexity.

  • Additives & Filtration: They practice a "no-fining, no-filtration" approach. Sulfur is only added in minimal amounts and only when necessary to ensure stability.

  • Aging & Bottling: The wines are aged in old oak or stainless steel and are bottled on-site at their small winery.

Grapes & Wines

Good Intentions Wine Co. works with a diverse range of grape varieties, primarily from their organically farmed estate vineyards in Mount Gambier and other sites in the wider Limestone Coast region. The wines are often made in unique and expressive styles, including skin-contact whites and light reds.

  • Chardonnay: Sourced from their 'Volcanic Lakes' vineyard, located on the fertile volcanic soils at the foot of Mount Gambier.

  • Pinot Noir: Grown on their 'Lake of Fire' home farm and other local vineyards, often resulting in bright, fruit-forward wines with a mineral undertone.

  • Pinot Gris: A house favorite, typically made with extended skin contact to create a textural, savoury, and saline-driven wine.

  • Sauvignon Blanc: Used for their "Relatively White" bottling, a skin-contact wine aged on lees.

  • Cabernet Franc: Sourced from Robe, this grape is used to produce a cool-climate red with savory notes.

  • Shiraz: They work with a small, unique planting of Shiraz in Mount Gambier, producing a light and delicate expression of the grape with refreshing acidity.

  • Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Semillon: These varieties are also used for various projects, including textural skin-contact whites and blends.