Winemakers’ Lunches
Lunch at Cumulus Inc. is always memorable - taking an afternoon to bask in the light-filled surrounds of the dining room over a plate (and glass) of something delicious with friends.
The Winemakers' Lunch series was our annual celebration of the vineyards, farmers and local suppliers that bring joy, inspiration and exceptional wine to our restaurant. Hear directly from the winemakers behind some of the country's most acclaimed regions and discover the influences and stories behind each vineyard and vintage.
August Winemakers’ Lunch
with Weathercraft & Willem Kurt
Sunday 16 August
On Sunday 16 August, we’re bringing Beechworth to Flinders Lane, welcoming producers Raquel Jones of Weathercraft and Daniel Balzer of Willem Kurt.
Join us as we explore the geography, climate and traditions that make up the region’s unique terroir, and how this influences their winemaking.
Raquel Jones, Weathercraft
Raquel Jones co-founded Weathercraft Wines with her partner Hugh after discovering a vineyard just ten minutes from Beechworth in 2016, neighbouring icons such as Giaconda and Castagna.
The site held an immaculate 20-year-old block of shiraz planted in 1998, to which the pair have since added Tempranillo, Albariño, Grenache and Monastrell - a nod to Raquel's Spanish heritage. She takes a deeply hands-on approach, personally tending each of the property's roughly 10,000 vines at least three times a season, from pruning through to harvest.
Farming goes beyond organics, guided by a biological approach that prioritises soil health and lets the vines' vitality follow naturally. In the cellar, the focus stays on traditional, low-intervention winemaking, including the use of amphora for texture, purity and mineral tension.
Daniel Balzer, Willem Kurt
Daniel Balzer began his winemaking career in the late 1990s in the Yarra Valley, completing a Bachelor of Wine Science at Charles Sturt University and years in contract winemaking before launching his own label in 2012.
In 2017, Daniel and his wife Marije van Epenhuijsen purchased a paddock south of Beechworth, establishing a seven-acre estate vineyard at 600 metres above sea level, planted to Chardonnay, Syrah, Vermentino, Sangiovese and Pinot Noir on ancient loam and quartz-flecked soils.
With over 25 years of experience, Daniel's philosophy has settled into a firm "less is more" approach — minimal intervention, natural fermentation, no fining or filtration, and an off-grid, self-sustaining estate — resulting in savoury, precise cool climate wines that honestly express variety, site and season.
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