EPISODE 63
Historic Vines Bulldozed at Pokolbin Estate By Developers wITH GUEST Andrew Thomas of Thomas Wines
Listen: ON SPOTIFY
Watch: ON YOUTUBE
In this episode, we sit down with one of the Hunter Valley’s most respected winemakers — Andrew “Thomo” Thomas of Thomas Wines — to talk about the craft, the legacy, and the fight currently unfolding in the heart of Australian wine country.
The first half of our conversation dives deep into Thomo’s life in wine: growing up around vineyards, cutting his teeth at Tyrrell’s, and eventually building Thomas Wines into one of the most recognisable Semillon and Shiraz–focused producers in the region. From the evolution of Hunter styles to the realities of modern viticulture, Tomo doesn’t hold back.
But the second half — the most important half — is a story that every wine lover, farmer, and regional Australian needs to hear. Heritage vines at Pokolbin Estate — planted in 1969, integral to Hunter history, and source of the iconic KISS Shiraz — are being bulldozed by Sydney developer Devcore to make way for housing. Not replanted. Not relocated. Destroyed. These vines aren’t just plants. They’re living history. They’re decades of soil, weather, farming, craftsmanship and cultural identity. They’re part of the Hunter’s DNA — and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.
Thomo shares the emotional toll of watching 90% of this heritage block ripped out, the sleepless nights, the battle with a decades-old “zombie DA,” and the complete lack of understanding shown by a developer that sees land, not legacy. He explains why old vines matter, why this loss cuts so deep, and what this means for the future of Australian wine.
But this story isn’t just tragedy — it’s resilience. Thomo and his son Dan have taken 3,000 cuttings from the old vineyard in an attempt to save the genetic line and give KISS a second life somewhere new. It won’t replace what was lost… but it might just save a piece of it.
Whether you’re into wine, agriculture, Australian history, or the fight to protect regional culture from urban creep, this is a conversation you need to hear.