The Slowest Growing Vines in the Hills
Lansdowne Vineyard sits at 350 metres in the Forreston Valley, Adelaide Hills — home to the slowest growing vines in the region. Planted in 1996 and purchased by Brendan and Janet Cameron in 2002, the 17.5-hectare property is named after Lansdowne House, built in 1896, and its sculpted cypress hedge — both local landmarks. For 24 years, Brendan nurtured the vineyard, transitioning from conventional viticulture to organic farming in 2018 and achieving full organic certification in 2024. The next generation — Janet's daughter Eliza and partner Tass — now run the associated Lansdowne Wine brand, making small-batch, minimal intervention wines with a full-love, hands-off approach. The vineyard supplies grapes to multiple small and medium producers across the Adelaide Hills, including three Masters of Wine. But the wines made under the Lansdowne label are the most personal: sparkling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and pét-nats that sing in the same key as their unique roots.
From Conventional to Conscious
The Lansdowne story begins in 1896, when Lansdowne House was built in the Forreston Valley — a perched valley in the Adelaide Hills, surrounded by rolling hills and cypress trees. The sculpted cypress hedge that frames the property remains a local landmark, and the vineyard takes its name from both the house and the hedge. The first vines were planted in 1996, and in 2002, Brendan and Janet Cameron purchased the property. Brendan, who grew up on a wheat and sheep farm at Melrose, had spent his early career in rural land valuation and real estate before realising his lifelong aim of owning and running a productive rural enterprise. Janet, a Londoner by birth who came to Australia at age 14, brought a creative flair and a nurturing ethos that would prove essential to the vineyard's character.
For the first 16 years, the vineyard was run conventionally — the standard approach in the Adelaide Hills at the time. But as Brendan learned more about alternatives to chemical intervention, curiosity turned to conviction. The transition to organic viticulture began in 2018, driven by a desire for long-term sustainability, healthier soil, and better wine. "Our organic viticulture journey started several years ago and has opened our minds to the resilience that natural systems already have," Brendan later reflected. Full organic certification was achieved in 2024 through Southern Cross Certified (Cert. No. 24007), marking the culmination of a six-year transition. [^46^]
The next generation brought fresh energy and a new direction. Janet's daughter Eliza and her partner Tass — both with backgrounds in hospitality and design — launched the Lansdowne Wine brand, making small-batch wines from the family vineyard with a minimal intervention philosophy. Their approach is "full-love, but hands-off" — letting the grapes express themselves with minimal interference, utilising gentle techniques and keen observation to safeguard the unique characteristics of each vintage. [^50^] The result is a range of wines that are authentic, transparent, and deeply connected to the Forreston Valley terroir.
"Our organic viticulture journey started several years ago and has opened our minds to the resilience that natural systems already have."
— Brendan Cameron
Perched Valley, Cool Air & Living Soil
Lansdowne Vineyard occupies a unique position in the Adelaide Hills. At 350 metres elevation in the Forreston Valley, it experiences a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers that linger into long, stretched autumns. But what truly sets it apart is the katabatic flow of cooling air currents that pool cold air in the perched valley — a natural air-conditioning system that extends the ripening period and makes Lansdowne one of the latest-ripening vineyards in the Adelaide Hills. [^46^] This extended hang time is the secret to the wines' flavour complexity and elegance — the grapes ripen slow and steady, developing depth and nuance that faster-ripening sites cannot achieve.
The soil is equally distinctive: red-brown topsoil over shaley clay subsoil, transitioning to black self-mulching clays. This combination of soil types, combined with the cool air drainage and the overlying cool climate of the Adelaide Hills Wine Region, creates a terroir that is both challenging and rewarding. The vineyard is home to nine varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Barbera, Grüner Veltliner, and Gamay. All grapes are hand-picked to respect the premium quality and to ensure winemakers have the best undamaged fruit to craft their wine. [^46^]
The Camerons' commitment to organic farming goes beyond simply avoiding synthetic chemicals. They have progressively raised dripper lines to enable undervine weed cultivation by mechanical means, planted 1,000 sedges along the creek and around the dam, and allowed annual grasses and legumes to re-establish under the vine rows. In 2023, they planted an additional 1,000 native endemic species in the Forreston Vineyard, with more to come. [^52^] The vineyard is part of the EcoVineyards program, a nationally recognised initiative that supports growers in building natural resilience through biodiversity. "We want to demonstrate to ourselves, our customers and those around us that there is a better way than what has become the traditional chemical interventionist way," Brendan said. [^52^]
The original 17.5-hectare vineyard, planted 1996–2000. 350m elevation, perched valley position. Red-brown topsoil over shaley clay, transitioning to black self-mulching clays. Katabatic cooling air flow extends ripening. Nine varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Barbera, Grüner Veltliner, Gamay. Certified organic since 2024.
A second site that expands the family's holdings. Part of the same valley system, with similar soils and climate. Used for both grape production and biodiversity projects, including the planting of 1,000 native endemic species in 2023. The focus is on regenerative agriculture, soil health, and long-term sustainability.
Certified organic by Southern Cross Certified (Cert. No. 24007) since 2024. No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilisers. Mechanical undervine cultivation. Native revegetation — 1,000 sedges along the creek, 1,000 endemic species planted in 2023. Cover crops and legumes between rows. EcoVineyards program participant. Focus on soil health, vine resilience, and biodiversity.
Lansdowne is known as the home of the slowest growing vines in the Adelaide Hills. The combination of cool air pooling, elevation, and late-ripening varieties means the grapes hang on the vine longer than almost anywhere else in the region. This extended ripening period develops complex flavours, natural acidity, and a distinct elegance that defines the Lansdowne style. Patience is not just a virtue here; it is the foundation of the wine.
Full-Love, Hands-Off
Eliza and Tass Coulls believe in the importance of sustainability and transparency in their wine. Their approach is simple: "full-love, but hands-off" — a philosophy that means caring deeply for the vineyard and the fruit, but intervening as little as possible in the winery. "We believe in a less-is-more approach to winemaking," they explain. "Our goal is to allow the grapes to express themselves with minimal interference. By utilising gentle techniques and keen observation, we safeguard the unique characteristics of each vintage, resulting in wines that are authentic and true to their time and place." [^50^]
This philosophy extends from the vineyard to the bottle. In the vineyard, it means organic farming, hand-picking, and a focus on soil health. In the winery, it means wild ferments, minimal sulfur, no fining, and no filtration where possible. The wines are made in small batches — "small batch estate grown wines from our organic vineyards" — with a focus on freshness, elegance, and drinkability. The bubbles are a particular point of pride: "It's Not My Fault I Like Bubbles" — a 100% Pinot Noir sparkling — and the pét-nats are among the highest-rated wines at Good Pair Days, a testament to the quality that comes from vineyard-first thinking. [^48^]
The Coulls' background in hospitality and design informs everything they do. The wines are not just delicious; they are beautiful inside and out. The labels are playful, colourful, and distinctive — a reflection of Eliza's creative eye and the couple's belief that wine should be joyful, not pretentious. "We celebrate the stuff that we think makes the world a more interesting place," Eliza says. "Our early careers in hospitality and design were the inspiration to create refreshing wines, both inside and out." [^48^] This is wine made by people who understand that the best bottle is the one you want to open with friends, not the one you save for a special occasion.
Valentino & The Bubbles
The name "It's Not My Fault I Like Bubbles" was inspired by Italian fashion designer Valentino, who famously said "I love beauty, it's not my fault" in the documentary *Valentino: The Last Emperor*. Eliza, a self-confessed Valentino fan, saw the quote as the perfect encapsulation of the wine's personality: funny, elegant, over the top, yet classic. "It kind of just fit with the personality of our bubbles," she explained. The wine itself is 100% Pinot Noir — a deliberate choice that will never change. It is Lansdowne's flagship sparkling, made with the same full-love, hands-off approach as everything else, but with an extra dose of joy. This is a wine that doesn't take itself too seriously, even as it takes its quality very seriously indeed.
Family, Design & Conscious Living
Lansdowne is a family business in the truest sense. Brendan and Janet Cameron laid the foundations — purchasing the vineyard, nurturing the vines, and transitioning to organic farming. Eliza and Tass Coulls brought the next generation's energy, creativity, and commitment to minimal intervention winemaking. Together, they represent a bridge between tradition and innovation, between conventional agriculture and regenerative farming, between the old Adelaide Hills and the new.
The family's values are clear: sustainability, transparency, creativity, and joy. They are committed to running a conscious company that is ethical, sustainable, and helps agriculture practices that do not deplete the environment. "If 2020/21 has taught us anything, it's how much we still need to learn to look after our precious and ancient country," Eliza reflected. "We have a responsibility to be able to say we did everything we could to help change the future." [^48^] This is not marketing speak; it is a genuine commitment that is evident in every decision, from the native revegetation projects to the organic certification to the minimal intervention winemaking.
The Lansdowne aesthetic is as distinctive as its philosophy. The wines are packaged in bottles that are as beautiful as they are sustainable — playful labels, natural corks, and a general sense of joy that is rare in an industry that often takes itself too seriously. The couple's design background is evident in every detail, from the typography to the colour palette to the way the wines are presented at events and tastings. This is wine as art, wine as design, wine as a celebration of the good things in life. And with a cellar door planned for 2026, the Lansdowne experience is about to become even more immersive. [^46^]
"If 2020/21 has taught us anything, it's how much we still need to learn to look after our precious and ancient country. We have a responsibility to be able to say we did everything we could to help change the future."
— Eliza Coulls
The Lansdowne Wine Range
Lansdowne Wine produces a focused range of small-batch, estate-grown wines from the family's certified organic vineyards in the Forreston Valley. The portfolio centres on sparkling wines — including the flagship "It's Not My Fault I Like Bubbles" — alongside Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, pét-nats, and rosé. All wines are made with a full-love, hands-off approach: wild ferments, minimal sulfur, no fining, no filtration where possible, and a relentless focus on freshness, elegance, and drinkability. The wines are vegan-friendly and made with grapes that are free from synthetic spray chemicals. Prices are approximate and vary by market.