Three minutes with Wendy Allan
Wendy Allan grew up on a farm in New Zealand before studying viticulture in Adelaide and working her way up to Senior Viticulturist at Penfolds Wine Group. Today, she and her husband Tony own and operate the Barossa’s iconic Pindarie Wines.
Ben What are your fondest memories from growing up on New Zealand’s South Island?
Wendy I came from a big family and as we had a large farm comprising sheep, cattle and deer, there was so much to do from one season to the next. It was all-hands-on-deck from an early age. We had a half-acre vegetable garden with a fruit orchard, so we picked, blanched, froze and preserved everything for food storage over winter months. It was a great life, and we had lots of fun. It taught me teamwork and work ethic. We did find time to holiday by the lakes and ski as we lived close to The Remarkables and the lakes district. Also, as we had a river near our farm we liked to fish for trout. The best memories were with family and neighbours and all the beautiful home-made food we had.
Ben How did you meet your husband Tony and establish Pindarie Wines?
Wendy We met at Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1985. He was studying farm management in agriculture and during orientation he was demonstrating the use of a stock whip while wearing R.M. Williams and an Akubra: you couldn’t get more Australian than that. We were great friends, and the relationship developed more than a decade after graduating as we both lived and worked overseas from time to time. Pindarie (an Aboriginal word meaning “Hilly Place”) was his grandfather’s property since 1957. Before that, the Schwartz family owned the property and built the stone buildings. When Tony returned from the Middle East in 1990, he initially leased the farm and fell in love with the stone buildings. We planted shiraz in 1998 and then started Pindarie as a wine brand in 2005. The restoration took so long, we didn’t open the cellar door until April 2010.
Ben Tell me about your farm and vineyards?
Wendy We live on 800 acres on the Western Ridge of the Barossa and have 90 acres under vineyard, fully-certified sustainable since 2022. The rest of the farm is run with sheep for wool and lamb production. We grow shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo, sangiovese, fiano and montepulciano. Our property is blessed with great views and for 35 years Tony planted thousands of natives suitable to our region. We have 15 acres fenced off as a reserve for native flora and fauna.
Ben Which of your wines are you most proud of?
Wendy When we planted tempranillo in 2001, only one other winery in the Barossa had tempranillo that we knew of. I had worked with it in Spain and Portugal and I love the softness of the wine it produces. We named it The Risk Taker as everything we did out on the Western Ridge was a risk. But it worked. At the time, tempranillo was a point of difference.
Ben How has the drought affected this year’s vintage?
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Wendy The drought is the worst we have experienced but we had a good water allocation and vintage 2025 is a cracker. It was early but the colour and concentration of flavours was exceptional. However, I feel for the livestock farmers out there as the costs to feed sheep and cattle is very high. Cereal farmers in SA are all doing it tough too. Agriculture is facing the onset of unfavourable climate change. We have to adapt to remain viable.
Ben What are your tips for visiting the Barossa Valley this month?
Wendy Stay for two nights as there’s plenty to see. During the cooler months, the Barossa is a great place to visit as many venues have an open fire, like ours. Hike the Stringy Bark Walk in Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park where you’ll see plenty of kangaroos. Visit Angaston and Tanunda which are full of cafe culture with some great lunch spots and retail shopping. Visit the iconic Jacob’s Creek visitor centre, Yalumba and Seppeltsfield for not only the wines but heritage and history. Explore the smaller family-owned cellar doors. Take a bike ride along the Barossa bike trail. If you missed Gather Round, explore Lyndoch and see the Barossa Park sport complex without the crowds. Finally, visit the cool new Wonderground Barossa Art Gallery and the Marananga Schoolhouse Precinct.
This article first appeared in the August 2025 issue of SALIFE magazine.
