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Not every winemaking journey begins in a château with rolling vineyards and deep family roots. Santolin Wines began with a leap of faith—and two people who decided to do things their way.

In 2012, Adrian and Rebecca Santolin took the money they had saved for a house and invested it in a barrel, a tank, and two tonnes of Pinot Noir grapes. No grand plan. No dynasty behind them. Just passion, courage, and an unwavering belief that good wine begins with honest intent.

“We didn’t come from generations of winemakers. We were the first. We just knew we wanted to make wines we loved to drink.”
— Rebecca Santolin

Meet the Makers

Adrian is the winemaker—hands-on, curious, and quietly obsessive when it comes to Pinot Noir. His Italian heritage saw him working on his grandparents’ farm during school holidays, and by his teens, he was working harvests at local wineries to help fund university. Over the years, he honed his skills at iconic Yarra Valley estates: De Bortoli, Rochford, Wedgetail, Rob Dolan, and more.

Rebecca, a proud Kiwi with a soft spot for the All Blacks (to Adrian’s despair), runs the business side—branding, marketing, operations, family. She's the quiet engine behind their momentum, turning their tiny indie label into a multi-award-winning producer with wines served in Qantas International Business Class and top restaurants like Attica and Vue de Monde.

Together, they built Santolin from scratch. No inheritance. No winery handover. Just long days, small tanks, and an eye on quality over quantity.

Why Pinot Noir?

Pinot Noir is one of the hardest grapes to master—but that’s exactly why Adrian chose it.

He doesn't manipulate it. Instead, he lets it speak. Fermentation is wild. No fining agents. Ageing happens in a mix of new and old French oak. Bottling only happens when the wine is ready. The result? Pure-fruited, site-driven Pinots with elegance, edge, and exceptional texture.

Every bottle reflects both the site and the maker’s hand—a balance of instinct, patience, and understanding.

A Family First, Always

The Santolins still run everything themselves. Their winery is solar powered. Their bottles are lightweight. They raise kids and grapes in equal measure, often at the same time. And they still make less wine than most big labels spill in a year.

To them, that’s the point.

They don’t want to be everywhere. Just in the right places, with the right people—like FinePinot customers who care deeply about Pinot Noir and the stories behind the bottle.

“At the end of the day, we’re making wines we want to drink with people we love.”
— Adrian & Rebecca Santolin

Available Now at FinePinot

FinePinot proudly offers two of Santolin’s most expressive, small-batch Pinot Noirs:

• Santolin Gruyere Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021
  A lifted, aromatic Pinot from the lower Yarra. Notes of red cherry, pomegranate, spice, and fine-grained tannins. Wild-fermented and matured in French oak.

• Santolin Gladysdale Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021
  A cooler-climate single-vineyard Pinot with darker fruit, savoury spice, forest undergrowth, and outstanding structure. Precise, elegant, and built to age.

Explore the range now at FinePinot.com.au