Meet the Maker

Brown Brothers Winemaker, Katherine Brown

Katherine Brown wanted to be a winemaker since she was a kid, and it if wasn’t for her high school careers counsellor, she may very well have become one a lot sooner. On her path to be a winemaker at Brown Brothers, Katherine took a bit of a detour, and along the way has picked up a diverse range of skills and experiences that make her one of the most valuable assets in the Brown family business.

Fresh out of a business and marketing degree, Katherine jumped into the workforce at a small coffee roaster in Melbourne. What resonated with her were the similarities between making wine and roasting coffee - taste, aroma, colour and flavour profiles.

After her caffeine fix, Katherine worked for a wine broker, selling some pretty incredible wines into large corporates. The time spent here took her experience and knowledge of the broader wine industry to the next level - and brought her focus back fairly and squarely on the wine side of things. With the brokering industry slowing and with wine on her mind, where else do you go, but to France? A vintage in Champagne and Bordeaux was just the catalyst to take Katherine to the next stage of her career.

Tradition and passion runs deep in the Brown family

Fresh from her travels and work in France, and with wine coursing through her veins, Katherine jumped head first into a range of roles at Brown Brothers, each with their own valuable experiences and insights. After immersing herself in sales, PR, marketing and brand ambassador roles, Katherine completed a Masters in Wine Business and, with great relief a Masters in Viticulture and Oenology.

Now as winemaker at Brown Brothers, Katherine is making waves in the industry winning awards and most recently being listing in the Top 50 Young Guns of Wine. Katherine wouldn’t change her journey, and believes the family's view to encourage their children to work outside the business, pushing their knowledge of the industry and beyond, has been the backbone to success of the business and the development of her career.

The beautiful gardens around Brown Brothers put on a spectacular show in Spring

Katherine kindly shares more about her beloved Brown Brothers and her love of the King Valley.

Why do you think your great grandfather chose to plant his vineyard in the King Valley in 1885?

Along with the variable soils and the ideal climatic conditions, I would say the reliable water source (aquifer) that sits beneath the property. You can still see the original windmill as your drive by the property, which plays a vital role in the vineyard today, especially in Spring when frost is still a threat to the grapes. In the early hours of the morning, the windmill pulls up the water that is sprayed lightly over the vineyard, which stops the frost dead in its tracks.

What is your favourite wine to sip on over Spring?

It might sound a little biased (seeing as I make it), but you can't go past our rosé in Spring. It picked up a Victorian Wine Show trophy in 2017 and I’m really excited for the 2018 release.

The gardens around the winery, cellar door and restaurant are particularly beautiful in Spring...

The grounds are diligently attended to by our gardeners Phil and Nick, and will certainly be putting on a beautiful show around Spring. What makes it even more special is that a lot of the flowers and plants have been propagated from my Nana Patricia’s garden. I think she would be over the moon that visitors are able to enjoy her stunning roses in full bloom.

What’s your favourite spot around the grounds at Brown Brothers Epicurean Centre?

The coffee machine will also be firing from 10am, so after quick caffeine fix you can hit the cellar door for a fun and informative tasting. I’d suggest grabbing a bean bag and sitting under the big pecan tree, with a glass of prosecco (or rosé!) while the kids blow of the winter steam on the outdoor play area. The cellar door is open from 10am, 7 days a week.

What is your favourite thing to do on the King Valley around Spring?

Grabbing a bike from cellar door and taking a spin around the region. Cheese, meats, olives, bread - you don’t have to go to far to taste the exceptional produce of the area. I also love getting down to the King River in early Spring. With the winter snow melting on the mountains the river is running full, most definitely the perfect time to throw a line in. Along with the lush green vegetation and the quite location, it’s pretty hard to beat.