Winemaking

Our Winemaker


At the heart of Willespie’s wines isNathan Shultz.With over two decades of experience in viticulture and winemaking, Nathan brings a thoughtful, minimal-intervention approach to the cellar, letting the character of the vineyard shine through in every bottle.

Nathan believes great wine starts in the vineyard. He works closely with the estate's vines year-round, ensuring the grapes are harvested at peak balance and flavour. In the winery, his style is unforced and intuitive, favouring small-batch ferments, gentle handling, and techniques that honour both varietal character and place.

His focus is on crafting expressive, honest wines with structure, elegance, and the ability to age gracefully, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, which he considers the true voice of Wilyabrup. Under Nathan’s guidance, Willespie’s wines are both a continuation of legacy and a quiet evolution: rooted in tradition, but always looking ahead.

At Willespie, oak is used with intention; never to dominate, but to enhance. We work with French oak barrels, selecting a mix of seasoned and new oak to suit each varietal and vintage. Time in barrel is carefully managed to bring structure, texture, and gentle spice, while allowing the fruit to remain at the heart of the wine. For us, oak is a supporting character - elevating the wine without overshadowing its origin or individuality.

Winemaking is a process that occurs year-round, so there's not much rest for the winemaker! Assessment of the wine occurs throughout vintage with decsions on when to harvest and continues with blending trails and pre-bottling analysis. A lot goes into coming up with the final products in our portfolio. You can see our team busy at work when you visit the cellar door as the winery is right next door.

Liquor Licence Number: 6 180025858

ABN: 96 684 018 979