Kakaba Wines

When I contact a new winery for the Companion, I ask what inspired the vigneron to entertain the folly of starting a new winery. Chris Milner, with wife Jill in tow, responded by saying, ‘it has been an enjoyable journey and, incredible as it may seem, moderately profitable, which I attribute to having zero overheads (no vineyards and no winery), zero employees (Jill and I don't get paid) and zero bank debt (too much debt will kill you every time!)'. He had the great advantage of having worked in the wine business since the late 1990s, mainly in the finance and commercial operations of various businesses. In 2006 there was an opportunity to source premium wine from the Adelaide Hills, and sell it to other wineries as bulk either during vintage or shortly thereafter. This worked very well in '06 and '07, but then came the superabundant vintage of '08, with supply exceeding demand. Because of his wisdom the business survived, and continued, finally moving to bottle some wine under its own labels. -JAMES HALLIDAY