Background
Wayne Thomas started his winemaking career at Stonyfell winery in 1961 and worked for Ryecroft Vineyards and Saltram before becoming a freelance consultant in the mid 1970’s. He studied at Roseworthy College in 1964 and he and his wife Pat established the FERN HILL label in 1975. Making high quality red and white table wines Fern Hill achieved 140 medals including 5 trophies in Australian Wine Shows.
After the sale of Fern Hill in April 1994 the Thomas’ launched the WAYNE THOMAS WINES label. Show judges continue to rate Wayne’s wines highly under the new label with a further 56 medals having been won (3 Gold, 14 Silver and 39 Bronze).
All grapes of the 120-150 tonnes processed each year are grown in the Mclaren Vale area.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Riesling are produced and bottled under the Wayne Thomas label.
A bottle fermented Chardonnay was first released in 1998 and the 2000 vintage was re packaged and called “Patricia” Methode Champenoise in memory of Pat who died early in 2001.