Shavaughn Wells’ earliest memories are of growing up on a vineyard in Merbein, near Mildura in Victoria’s north-west. Her grandfather Syd Wells was a winemaker before taking on the role of managing director of Mildara Wines Limited in the 1950s and 1960s. He was responsible for nurturing her early interest in wine. Since those early days of stealing a sip from her grandfather’s glass, winemaking has always been Shavaughn’s passion. After studying Oenology at Adelaide University’s famous Roseworthy Campus, Shavaughn graduated in 1998. Following in her grandfather’s footsteps, Shavaughn’s first vintage in 1997 was in her hometown of Merbein, working on the white wines at the Mildara winery. Shavaughn then moved to Mildara’s Coonawarra winery in the late 1990s where she developed a passion for regional varietal wines. In 2000 Shavaughn further expanded her winemaking expertise. While working at Yellowglen, one of Australia’s leading sparkling producers, she learnt the sparkling craft from Charles “Chilly” Hargrave, a time she truly valued. Healesville in the Yarra Valley was Shavaughn’s home from 2001 to 2003 where she worked with a broad spectrum of wines at Yarra Ridge and St Hubert’s, including Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. She moved to the Barossa in 2003, joining the white wine team at Wolf Blass. In 2005 Shavaughn began working on Saltram red wines alongside Barossa legend Nigel Dolan.