1900 Lobethal Road; from a distance, simply a new build with an old character. But for our family and community, this humble place hides a special tale of love, heartbreak, growth and resilience like none other.

The story of this property begins in September 2001, when our family were lucky enough to purchase the land nested in the rolling hills on the outskirts of Lobethal. Growing up on this property created some strong roots deep within me; a connection to our home like a sibling. As we tenderly renovated over the years, this bond between family and property only strengthened. We watched the growth of the trees we planted as kids and then climbed in later years, much in the same way we grew from children into adults on the property that was, and still is, much more than just a home to us – a place that holds a special piece of the hearts of many.

After one of the fiercest and most devastating bushfires to date, an oak tree now grows in loving memory of our cherished home. On the foundation of our family home a barn now stands. Built with our own hands, it is a sustainable space filled with recycled materials and crafted in a manner that builds a bridge between rustic industrial design and a ‘she’ll be right’ construction method. I like to call it character; the slight lean of the building, the number of wonky screws and the inclined polished concrete floor all tell stories of late nights, laughter and spontaneous ideas brought to life in the wake of such destruction. It’s these little imperfections that make our new place so special. A stranger's eye would not notice, but for those of us – the community and families that helped build the space – we cannot help but smile. 

It's funny how in the shadow of devastation, when everything seems to be broken, all you’re left with is a shell of yourself and a raw, singular focus on what really matters in life. It’s events like these which shape us at heart, and set a fundamental foundation for who we are as people. On a personal note, the bushfire really grounded me at heart and blessed me with a deeper connection to the land beneath my feet, changing my perspective on life in a very positive way.

Willow & Goose Wines is a dream that flourished from the devastation my family faced the summer of 2019. For me, this label is much more than a business venture; it is my home in a bottle. The philosophy behind the business is simply a platform marketed towards a young, hardworking, adventurous crowd. In the vintage of 2021, we crushed one and a half tonne of Pinot Noir, and one tonne of Shiraz. The Pinot portion of profits will be funding OpBlue, a charity orientated around the global clean water crisis.

It is very important to me to acknowledge the traditional custodians of my land, the Parmangk people, who wrote the first thousand chapters of the story behind our property, and maintain an ongoing spiritual relationship with the blessed land beneath my feet. 

Jack Wilson - Director Willow & Goose Wines