2023 · Mother’s Milk Barossa Shiraz

Founded in 2004 by friends John Retsas and Matt Gant, First Drop Wines is a founder-owned Barossa producer led by Retsas and the First Drop family. Working with growers across Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Eden Valley, the winery focuses on wines with flavour, texture and a “splash of funk,” balancing respect for tradition with a passion for innovation. Notes describe artisan, small-batch, minimal-intervention winemaking aimed at expressing fruit and site. First Drop also highlights sustainable practices, including close work with growers, recycled water systems and steps to reduce its environmental footprint. Its Home of the Brave cellar door, set in a restored 1930s distillery in Nuriootpa, pairs tastings and masterclasses with seasonal tapas and a relaxed Barossa atmosphere.