28, June 2023
Meet Your Maker: Lauren Langfield
Winemaker and General Manager, Orbis Wines
The Orbis brand was founded in 2018 by Brad Moyes and Kendall Grey. Their vineyard was largely planted to shiraz and grenache but Brad and Kendall had a very clear objective to be as sustainable as possible, aiming for a closed-loop farming model. To help achieve this they set about reworking the vineyard to establish varieties that were the most suited to the McLaren Vale climate, including tempranillo, nero d'avola, fiano and of course more grenache.
Vintage 2022 saw the appointment of winemaker Lauren Langfield, whose experience working in leading Australian and International Organic and Biodynamic vineyards made for a natural fit with Orbis Wines.
Lauren's winemaking philosophy allows the fruit to guide the winemaking style. Her winemaking efforts are focussed on letting the wines speak of place and varietal typicity, with very little manipulation – efforts that are being noticed in the wine industry with Lauren recently crowned the 2023 Young Gun of Wine (YGOW).
This accolade comes on the back of Lauren receiving the Best New Act title in the 2022 Young Gun Of Wine Awards.
We caught up with Lauren to hear more about her winemaking and what it means to her to be crowned the 2023 Young Gun of Wine:
What can we expect when drinking a glass of Orbis Wine?
Orbis Wines are made with drinkability in mind. First and foremost, it's about capturing delicious fruit characters, and then about building texture and interest. I think a lot about where I would drink these wines - who I would drink them with and definitely what I would eat them with too.... they’re wines made with the Aussie lifestyle in mind.
What is your favourite grape variety to work with and why?
I really love working with Grenache - since moving to McLaren Vale and being surrounded by so many very talented grenache winemakers and wine growers. I love making single variety grenache, and it blends so well too - it's great as a rosé, and even in our piquette!
Why do you choose to make wine in McLaren Vale Wine Region?
I’ve spent many years working in the Adelaide Hills, and I’ve always loved making trips down to the Vale. The diversity of the landscapes, the soils, the vine age and the people. Proximity to the beach, the hills, and the city - it's a fantastic wine region to work in!
What does it mean to you to have recently been crowned Young Gun of Wine for 2023?
It really was a wonderful surprise to win Young Gun of Wine, and an absolute honour to be listed amongst so many winemakers whose work I really admire. It can be a little lonesome working in the winery sometimes, too much thinking and plenty of second guessing, so a little boost to the confidence is always pretty nice to receive too.
What variety will you be drinking tonight and why?
It’ll be a tough call between a bottle of Grenache, or maybe a Cabernet Sauvignon, It's been a cold day here in McLaren Vale and I’m a sucker for something with some tannin and age this time of year!
Time to try Orbis Wines?
Contact Orbis to arrange a private tasting at their off-grid winery or head to their website to discover more: orbiswines.com.au.