We’re the Rowett family. A little while back we decided to trade suburban life for life on the land. We were looking for space, somewhere our family could stretch out, slow down, and swap the traffic for trees. All we really knew was that it had to be somewhere south.
Then we found it, 200 acres in Willunga, rolling hills sliding toward the ocean, vineyards we never planned on but instantly fell in love with, and sunsets that stop you mid-sentence. Now it’s home for us, our three kids, two Labradors, two Highland cows, Buddy the sheep, and the rest of the woolly gang.
Our Story
Somewhere along the way, “a bit of land for the kids” turned into “okay… so we’re managing our own vineyard and making wine now.”
We feel incredibly lucky, not only to have found land with genuinely great vines (the kind that grow fruit worth getting excited about), but also to have found great people to help us bring it all to life.
What started as a family adventure has grown into a vision to share this special place. Our patch of land, Somewhere South, feels too good to keep to ourselves. So we’re opening it up, first through our wine, then through an event space for celebrations, and soon, accommodation perched on the hill because honestly… the views up there are far too good not to share.
As a husband-and-wife duo, a builder and a lover of design and interiors, creating meaningful, beautiful spaces for others to enjoy feels like exactly where we’re meant to be.
We’re building it slowly, intentionally, and in between school drop-offs, vineyard days, and the occasional sheep escape.
We can’t wait to welcome you to our place,
Somewhere South.
Somewhere South is lived on and run by our family, often three generations of Rowetts’ are involved, it’s very much a family affair.
We’re also incredibly lucky to have some great people in our corner. Our viticulturist, Peter Bolte, has been working these vines for years, long before we ever imagined calling this place home. He keeps us on track, making sure we’re doing right by the vineyard and letting it do what it does best, grow really good fruit. His experience and knowledge are unmatched.
And when it comes to turning that great fruit into great wine, Simon Parker is our guy. He makes wines that feel just like this place, relaxed, coastal and quietly confident. Winery days with Simon are always a highlight; we bring the endless questions, he brings the expertise, and somewhere in the middle we make some pretty special wines (and share a lot of laughs).
The Hands That
Make It Happen
Our 30 year old vines sit high on the slopes of Willunga Hill, above the McLaren Vale floor, catching every coastal breeze that rolls through. Underfoot it’s classic Willunga limestone, Urrbrae clay and streaks of blue and grey slate, with only a thin layer of topsoil left after centuries of weather doing its thing. The ground keeps the vines steady and the fruit full of character.
We’re a sustainable vineyard, grown using organic practices wherever possible. All our water comes from a creek-fed dam, used sparingly and watched closely. Through autumn and winter, Buddy the sheep and the rest of his gang wander the rows doing what they do best, mowing, weeding and fertilising without complaint. The boys, Buddie & Frankie, our Highland cows, often run the rows too, doing their part. We farm with a light touch, using only small, targeted amounts of organically approved sulphur when needed, helped along by the natural winds that keep disease pressure low. The result? Healthy grapes, grown simply and intentionally, with no unnecessary fuss.
