Beyond Tradition: The Rising Star of Wine Country
- Liane Morris
- Jul 1, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 3, 2025
Latitude 32 Wines, nestled along Hermitage Road in the heart of Pokolbin, is raising a glass to its first year of operation. Since opening its doors in April 2024, the boutique winery has quickly established a name for itself, earning an impressive four and a half stars from James Halliday and building a strong following thanks to its relaxed, modern approach to the Hunter Valley wine experience.
At the heart of Latitude 32 is Emma White's vision: "fun with serious intent." Her cellar door, framed by sweeping vineyard views and the stunning Brokenback Mountains, invites guests to immerse themselves in wine, nature, and good times. Whether it's a picnic on the lawn, a stroll through the vines with a glass in hand, or a family game on the grass, Latitude 32 offers something refreshingly different.
Adding to the celebration, Latitude 32 welcomed Adam Holmberg as their full-time head winemaker in November 2024. Formerly of Tyrrell's and Leogate, Holmberg steps into his first lead role with a passion for innovation and craftsmanship that aligns perfectly with the winery's ethos. His arrival marks a new chapter for Latitude 32, as they continue to refine their range and deepen their roots in the region's rich winemaking tradition.
The story of Latitude 32 Wines is as much about personal reinvention as it is about winemaking. Founders Emma and David White hailed from the UK and spent their corporate careers travelling the world and indulging in their hobby of "wine chasing." But after years at the helm of major companies, Emma made the bold decision to pursue her true passion, premium wine. Armed with a Diploma in Wine and a relentless curiosity, she and David acquired two properties in the Hunter Valley, one of which boasts a historic Tyrrell's vineyard with 45-year-old vines.
Latitude 32's vineyard is already producing a strong line-up of varietals: classic Hunter Semillon, two distinct Chardonnay styles each vintage, Semillon-Chardonnay blends, Shiraz, Rosé crafted from Shiraz, and a Méthode Traditionelle sparkling made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Always forward-thinking, Emma and winemaker Adam are planning to plant the Spanish varietal Mencia, along with the robust Italian Aglianico.
"One of the advantages of being new to this industry is that we are not beholden to multiple generations of traditions," says Emma.
"We approach winemaking not from the traditional winemaker's perspective, but from a consumer's perspective. This gives us enormous freedom and flexibility in terms of our vintages. We fully embrace vintage variation and respect what happens in the vineyard."
It's this open-minded, hands-in-the-dirt approach that's making Latitude 32 a rising star in the Hunter—and one to watch in the years ahead.
Winemaker Adam agrees and is excited about the freedom he has for experimentation.
"Emma has given me free rein," said Adam.
"Latitude 32 has already developed its own style as a brand, and now I get to bring my own approach to that style, bringing with me the various winemaking techniques I've learnt working on great wines of the Hunter and always keeping our consumers in mind. We aim to craft wines that our customers genuinely enjoy drinking. Wines that are approachable and fruit-friendly. We're seeing a lot more demand for lower alcohol, which requires a close eye on the fruit. I'm excited to push the boundaries of tradition without losing the quality and having some fun with it."
Adam had a long apprenticeship, working as an assistant winemaker under Mark Woods at Leogate Estate for ten years. Before that, he worked at Tyrrell's for three years under the tutelage of legendary winemaker Andrew Spinaze. He has also worked on vintages across Europe, New Zealand and the Napa Valley and shares Emma's passion for fruit-first winemaking and responsible land stewardship. At the heart of Latitude 32's winemaking philosophy is a deep respect for the land and a proactive approach to protecting it for future generations. While sustainability is a buzzword across the wine industry, Emma White prefers the term regenerative—a more active commitment to healing and improving the vineyard ecosystem rather than simply maintaining it.
"It's important to me to convert as much of our practice as possible to those that help the land regenerate," Emma explains.
"I want to look after our planet and our future, but I also want the best possible soil for our fruit to grow in."
That belief underpins changes at the vineyard, from reducing tractor and diesel use to eliminating harsh chemicals in favour of natural alternatives. Instead of synthetic pesticides, ladybugs are released to manage pests, and native bees are introduced to pollinate the diverse cover crops planted between the vine rows.
In the off-season, the vineyard team plants multiple seed varieties, including canola, legumes, and rhubarb, between the rows. This strategy breaks the cycle of monoculture and acts as a powerful natural fertiliser when the cover crop is mowed back into the soil.
"It becomes an ecosystem that looks after itself," Emma says.
"It improves soil health, reduces the need for external inputs, and creates a more resilient vineyard overall."
Nothing epitomises this approach more than the 2024 vintage of The Enigma. Seven years in the making, The Enigma is poised to change perceptions of wine, pushing sensory boundaries and delivering an experience that has been hailed as "Australia in a glass."
"A white wine made from black grapes, inspired by winemaking traditions from around the world but rooted firmly in the terroir of the Hunter Valley. This wine comes from our 45-year-old dry-grown Pinot Noir vines at our Duck Hollow vineyard and is both a tribute to our region and a study in contrast—a wine crafted 'through a new lens'."
Emma and David were inspired to create this distinctive White Pinot Noir after their travels to Alsace, France, in 2017, where they first discovered and fell in love with it. Creating a white wine with true Pinot Noir flavour characteristics without a pink Rosé hue was a significant challenge. The process of successfully vinifying the black grapes to produce a wine that looks truly white is a secret that Emma is not about to share!
The Enigma is now available for tastings at the cellar door, which features a relaxed farmhouse vibe with various seating arrangements and plenty of glass, allowing guests to enjoy the view across the vines. There's a verandah, patio and lawn games to keep everyone, including the kids, entertained. It's also a dog-friendly environment where picnics are encouraged, and you can warm yourself around the fire pit.
Visitors can enjoy a delicious selection of light snacks paired with their wines, including a vegan cheeseboard. However, the real point of difference here is the dumplings and wine pairing, featuring various flavour combinations such as pork and prawn, Szechuan beef, cheeseburger, and vegetarian options. Booked breakfast hampers are available from 9am to enjoy in the vineyards.
Visitors can do walks through the vineyards with the winemaker and the viticulturist. Once a month there is a Friday Night Jam Session, a relaxed event with a food truck serving dinner and plenty of wine on offer until 9pm. The cellar door is open Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm, and by appointment only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Wine tastings begin at $15 per person for seven tastings, or you can purchase a glass of wine for $12. Reflecting on their first year of full operation, Emma is proud of their achievements during challenging times for the industry.
"I'm very happy with the decision we made to do this full time. The industry is facing challenging times, but there are still numerous opportunities if you stay in touch with evolving consumer demands. We have a very clear vision of what we're trying to achieve, with the customer at the centre of all of our decisions."
Winemaker Adam agrees and is playing a pivotal role in the winery's future. "Whilst we've already won medals and trophies, which is good, at the end of the day, we aim to create wines that are delicious, offer genuine value at the premium end of the market and are designed to be eminently drinkable, not just admired. As part of my new role, I'll be exploring sales and distribution opportunities in the UK, Vietnam and China to share what we love to create with the rest of the world."
With one remarkable year behind them and their eyes firmly on the horizon, Latitude 32 is proving that in the Hunter, tradition has a fresh new voice—and it speaks with passion, purpose, and a whole lot of flavour, not to mention fun! Visit www.latitude32wines.com.
