Maverick Wines was established in 2004 by Ronald Brown. The objective was and is, to be one of the top artisanal boutique wineries in Australia. Although young, Maverick owns 75 acres of vineyards from the top terroirs across the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Approximately half of the vines are over 100 years old, and many much older - their Ahrens' Creek Vineyard at Vine Vale has 1840's Semillon, 1840's Grenache, and 1870's Shiraz, while in the adjoining Barossa Ridge Vineyard they have Riesling from the 1860's! For decades the fruit from these vineyards went into the top names of the Australian wine industry. The combination of full biodynamic viticulture with zero chemicals, old vines and dry farming, results in very low yields which give a pure and intense fruit, with lower alcohols and greater finesse and elegance. Their unashamed goal is to always over-deliver, by producing small lots of genuinely hand-crafted products which will always denote outstanding value, regardless of commercial considerations. The winery is aptly named, as Brown is every bit the Maverick. Before he found these historic Barossa vineyards, he lived in the far east for over 30 years, running the Jardine Matheson wine and spirit desk for China and Japan. He then started his own wine importation and brand company in Japan, establishing a wine magazine, founding Japans most renowned wine bar Tastevin Aoyama, as well as setting up and chairing the Japan International Wine Challenge and the China International Wine Challenge. He is also a huge charity supporter, and now has his own called ‘Wine into water’ that build wells for communities around the world. Ronald himself will be here in Auckland to present these stunning wines. Prepare to have some of your notions of Australian wine challenged!