To celebrate becoming Australia’s first Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC^®) vineyard, Dudley and Irina at Inkwell are offering one tonne of Australia’s first ROC^® Shiraz crop for free* to five lucky winemakers from across Australia, who will be selected with the goal to “regenerate Shiraz as we know it” beginning in vintage 2024.

This project, “Hacking the Future of Shiraz @ Inkwell” is an open-source collaboration aimed at identifying styles and methods of producing Shiraz that resonate with younger consumers and non-consumers of wine.  The project will team a diverse group of early-career winemakers who are making distinctive and interesting wine and are looking to make their mark on the wine world with a diverse group of judges from Australia and overseas.

Bringing together identical lots of A-grade McLaren Vale Shiraz, great wine palates and great wine minds, this project embodies the ethos of regenerative agriculture:  diversity, cooperation, respect and sharing for the betterment of the future of the Australian wine industry and its most grown grape variety.

The diverse judging panel will provide individually written notes about each wine produced and Inkwell will also make the wines available in a limited number of mixed six packs.

The wine hackers will keep the profits from their rendition of Inkwell’s 2024 Shiraz grapes, although no other individuals involved will be compensated.

“Our goal is to lift up the future of Shiraz and regenerative wine farming together,” said head winemaker and viticulturist at Inkwell, Irina Santiago-Brown.

Mike Bennie, who will be the convenor of judges for the competition, expressed his enthusiasm about the project.

“Using this outstanding vineyard for such a disruptive, revitalising project is generous and resonates strongly with me. The idea that a diverse array of up-and-coming winemakers will be enabled able to assist in a cultural revitalisation of such a vaunted variety from this region feels relevant for our time.”

The wines will be bottled prior to the end of 2024 and assessed for their creativity, interest and drinkability in January 2025. Inkwell plans to run this project for vintages 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The project is open to winemakers from anywhere in Australia. You can apply to become one of the inaugural wine hackers here. Nominations close 2 February 2024.

*Details and fine print available here.

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