Max & Me

Max is the name of Phil Lehmann's rescue German shepherd/whippet cross, who introduced Phil to his then wife-to-be Sarah during a visit to the Barossa. A dog lover from way back, she fell in love with Max and Phil made it clear she wouldn’t get Max unless she married him (Phil). Phil had previously purchased the Boongarrie Estate with 5.25ha of shiraz and 4.97ha of cabernet sauvignon. They converted the vineyard to (non-certified) organic management, with no herbicides and only copper/sulphur sprays. The benefits are self-evident, reflected in the high quality of the wines made since ’11. Plantings of gamay, riesling and grenache came in ’21. -JAMES HALLIDAY