MEET THE MAKER
Talking all things wine with Scott and Belinda Austin, owners of 6Ft6 and Austin’s Wines
Tell us about your journey with 6Ft6. Was it something you fell into or, being a family business, was it an expectation? BELINDA: I de nitely fell into it. Scott brought me in ve years ago to run the Facebook account and now we’re running the business side by side. I take the creative arm and Scott is the numbers man.
SCOTT: If you ask Richard, also known as Dad, it was his cunning plan all along for me to take on the family business. However, I can honestly say that it was something that organically grew on me. The more I worked in the business during the early days, the more I fell in love with the journey it was taking me on.
Why is it called 6Ft6?
SCOTT: 6Ft6 is named in honour of local hero William Buckley, who stood at 6 feet and 6 inches tall, unusually large for the 18th century. A legend of his time, William has a story of true grit, determination and luck. His strong connection to our Indigenous culture was forged during his time living with a local community for almost 32 years. William Buckley inspired the adventurous name and spirit within us.
What does your day-to-day look like? SCOTT: Our roles have evolved over time from working tirelessly within day-to-day operations to managing a growing tribe of awesome sta . Between Belinda and myself, I tend to spend more time on the traditional growing, producing and selling functions of the business while Belinda innovates, plans and executes creative strategies and ideas. We collaborate well together and really harness each other’s strengths, which helps avoid dinnertime arguments – for the most part at least. You’ve recently collaborated with Patient Wolf Distillery to launch a pinot noir gin. Do you have other collabs in the works for 2022?
BELINDA: This year is looking fantastic for us – we’re collaborating with local artist Jenna Hutchison from Love Ludie who’ll be running an art class for our inaugural Rosé Academy. She’ll be helping participants create their own artwork, which we’ll turn into a wine label for their very own rosé blend. Our Rosé Academy is a unique opportunity for consumers, casual rosé lovers or fun-loving friends, to come together and learn about the process of wine. They’ll also walk away with their own stash of personalised rosé.
For our sister brand Austin’s, we are working with Boom Gallery who have sourced local artists to create artworks for our cellar door-only collection of wines.
Much like having a favourite child, what is your favourite wine?
BELINDA: Mine is de nitely pinot noir, with prosecco a close second.
SCOTT: Being a middle child, it comes as no surprise that my favourite wines sit smack in the middle of the taste pro les, being chardonnay and pinot noir.
What is your ideal variety to make and why? BELINDA: Pinot noir is the most ful lling as it’s known as the heartbreak grape – heartbreak because it’s so di cult to grow. We have successfully made a beautiful 6Ft6 pinot noir every year for over 20 years now, and it’s a great achievement.
SCOTT: The most challenging yet rewarding would have to be chardonnay, followed closely by pinot noir. Chardonnay at Austin’s is a smaller plot and given the lower acreage, picking dates are critical and handling methods are equally as important.
If money was no object, what bottle of wine would you buy and why?
BELINDA: If a trip to France is included, then a delicious bottle from Burgundy. SCOTT: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, just to see what all the fuss is about. Two bottles went to auction recently and sold for more than a Ferrari 812 GTS, which usually sits around the $500,000 mark.