Health

NI woman’s Australian vineyard adventure: ‘It was kind of crazy, we had no experience of making wine at all’

It’s 9pm on a Sunday and it’s dark outside. But at the other end of the video call I’m making, a new working week has already begun. It’s 8am on Monday there, the birds are singing, the sun is up, and the temperature is climbing steadily towards 30 degrees.

From Co Down to Canberra, Mary McAvoy and her husband David Faulks have gone from wine novices into award winners. Mary and David among the vines It’s 9pm on a Sunday and it’s dark outside. But at the other end of the video call I’m making, a new working week has already begun.

It’s 8am on Monday there, the birds are singing, the sun is up, and the temperature is climbing steadily towards 30 degrees. It’s harvest time at the Tallagandra Hill vineyard in Australia, and things are pretty hectic. Grape picking is in full swing, a busy weekend of wine tastings has just finished, and the property has been hosting one of its regular live music concerts.

I’m surprised anyone has time to talk to me at all..