The name Trapeze came to me after a night out. One of the crew at dinner had been training with the circus. At the time, she was working on ribbons: long silks needing core strength and careful balance to master.
On the way home, I was thinking about how you need the same things to make a great wine. You’re doing something hard but making the (drinking!) experience of it seem effortless. To pull it off, you have to do the reps, find your balance and trust your instincts.
Hello, Trapeze Wines.
The first Trapeze chapter started in 2011 with my great friend James Lance, who I met back in ’99, in Sonoma. We started small, using Yarra Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – not just for the sake of it; the fruit had to be good.
That first vintage was tough. Conditions were wet and unpredictable, especially for reds. Didn’t matter. We sold every bottle and had an awesome run, building a following over several years. By 2015, James and I were both juggling multiple labels, with me still focused on my partnership in Izway Wines in the Barossa Valley. So, we parked Trapeze for a time.
In 2022, Trapeze returned, this time at Six Js Vineyard, Steels Creek, in partnership with viticulturist Malcolm Wiley. The site offers space and clarity. There’s a stillness here. You can feel it in the wines. They’re honest, elegant and balanced.
I know what I want the wine to look like the second I taste the grapes at point of ripening. It’s not a formula – well, some is, but not this bit! It’s my palate and my heart. After that, it’s all about preserving that vision for the vintage. No clutter. No confusion. Just clarity.
Trapeze isn’t about tricks. It’s about getting the details right, from vineyard to glass. Built on experience, place and the quiet belief that if you stay balanced, you’ll stick the landing.
If you’ve read this far, chances are you get what we’re about. Thoughtful wines, made with care and clarity, no fuss.
The Trapeze Wine Club is our way of sharing more of that with you—15% off all wines, free shipping, exclusive events and a few little extras when you visit. Join the club and stay close to the wines you love. Take The Leap.
