Sue Hodder has been working at Wynns Coonawarra Estate for more than 30 years, most of that time as chief winemaker. Over the past three decades, she has seen it all: excellent vintages, difficult vintages; dry years, wet years; corporate takeovers, a revolving door of marketing managers; label redesigns, promotional campaigns; discounting, price hikes; good press, bad press.

So, when we sit down to discuss the 2023 vintage, one of the coolest and latest on record, she is philosophical. But optimistic, too, about a new push to build the sales and reputation of Wynns’ top wine, the John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, internationally.