Our Story
Meet the South Australian family behind Pressed Wines
In the heart of the Adelaide Hills, the Press family has turned the page and begun an exciting new chapter: Pressed Wines.
A winemaker with an illustrious career, Mike Press gathered a wealth of experience during his legendary tenures at the likes of Seppelt, Mildara Blass, and Penfolds, where he worked under the renowned Max Schubert.
With decades of winemaking under his belt, Mike eventually sought out a new endeavour with his wife, Judy. The pair purchased their home in Keyton Valley, a small town just outside Lobethal and, between 1998 and 1999, planted 60 acres of vineyards—the plan was to sell their grapes to their industry contacts.
Sadly, the Press family struggled as they were faced with a colossal oversupply of grapes that tarnished the demand for their product. Rather than watch their plan succumb to one of Australia’s most prominent grape gluts, they decided to act.
Mike was no stranger to the vine, so he dusted off his winemaker boots and got to work. Walking the streets of Adelaide and Lobethal, he and Judy began popping flyers for their new cleanskin wines in letterboxes. The word quickly got around town and before they knew it, they were selling multiple cases of wine daily!
People adored the personal touch as Mike hand-delivered the South Australian orders—and the wine itself provided some of the best value they had experienced.
In their first-ever wine show, their Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot stole the spotlight, picking up awards for the top red wines in their respective categories.
Following this success, the pair entered their Shiraz for the 2005 Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy, where their wine finished as the runner-up—something that was practically unheard of for a cleanskin! This sparked a wave of demand, so they promptly organised some labels to slap onto their naked bottles, beginning what would be their extraordinary venture known as Mike Press Wines.
Through James Halliday’s Wine Companion, Mike’s wines have been—and continue to be—well recognised and awarded.
From featuring in James Halliday’s Top 100 Wines for nine consecutive years to achieving a five-star rating from the wine connoisseur himself and even picking up hundreds of medals at wine shows along the way, the list of Mike’s accolades seems almost endless.
In early 2024, Mike and Judy began a new venture, upholding the same cherished values that have long defined their legacy: premium wines at rock-bottom prices!
After launching their first wines under the Pressed Wines label in May 2024, the duo aims to showcase the best of what South Australia has to offer by sourcing grapes from all over the state and crafting them into memorable wines where every sip tells a story.
Mike is passionate about being involved in every step of this viticultural journey. His meticulous attention to detail ensures each wine is crafted to absolute perfection. With Pressed Wines, he and Judy will also stay true to their roots and remain a family operation, with a few familiar faces also joining them for their latest exciting chapter.
And for those wondering … yes, Mike still plans on hand-delivering your South Australian orders from time to time!
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