Sapling Yard Wines

Carla Rodegheiro and Andrew Bennett work full-time in the pharmaceutical clinical research and building industries, respectively. Carla started out as a microbiologist working as a locum in hospitals in Australia and London. While in London, she also worked evenings in a wine bar in Carnaby Street where she tasted a '93 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz and vowed to one day make a wine of similar remarkable quality. In '97 she began a wine science degree at CSU, completing the last residential term in '04 (with 9-week-old daughter Mia in tow), having worked vintages in the Hunter Valley, Orange, Macedon Ranges and Willamette Valley, Oregon. In '08 Carla and Andrew planted a 1.2ha vineyard at Braidwood to pinot noir, riesling, pinot blanc and tempranillo but they also continue to source their best grapes from the Canberra District. -JAMES HALLIDAY