Full steam ahead for the new Carey Gully winery project of Georges Thienpont, a fourth-generation winemaker from Bordeaux.
Thienpont, from a large wine industry family, has appointed former Balnaves of Coonwarra winemaker Jacinta Jenkins as the winemaker for his new estate and winery at Carey Gully at the Adelaide Hills.
Jenkins will oversee all winemaking operations and act as steward of the estate, a press release says.
Jenkins was senior winemaker at Balnaves of Coonawarra and was a shortlisted finalist for the Halliday Wine Companion 2025 Winemaker of the Year.
The daughter of renowned Coonawarra viticulturist Allen Jenkins, Jacinta began her wine journey with a BSc in Biochemistry (Hons) at Monash University, before working vintages in Australia (Balnaves, Wynns, Sons of Eden) and internationally (Ch. St Michelle, Washington State USA; Craggy Range, Hawke’s Bay NZ; Dr Loosen, Mosel Valley Germany and PennerAsh Wine Cellars, Oregon USA).
She then studied viticulture and oenology at the University of Adelaide, before working as sssistant winemaker at Pikes Wines in the Clare Valley.
Having grown up in Coonawarra, she returned home in 2018 to work with Balnaves winemaker of 25 years Peter Bissell. She was made senior winemaker after Bissell retired in 2020..
Georges Thienpont says he shares Jenkins' passion for detail and precision.
When he learned of her background in biochemistry, he envisioned the innovations she could bring by combining her scientific expertise with creative flair to express the terroirs of Piccadilly and Clarendon, which will provide the fruit for the project's wines.
Georges Thienpont has been involved in his family’s wine business since his youth.
A law graduate of the University of Leuven in Belgium, from where his family originates.
He moved to Adelaide to study wine business and is now completing a postgraduate degree in viticulture and oenology.
His great-grandfather, Georges Thienpont (Snr) purchased Vieux Château Certan in Pomerol in 1924 -exactly 100 years before Georges acquired the estate and vineyard in Carey Gully.
The chardonnay for the estate’s wines will come from the Carey Gully vineyard, planted in 1998 by Brian Croser for Petaluma. An additional hectare of chardonnay was planted in November 2024 under the supervision of viticultural consultant Dylan Grigg.
These vineyards, situated at 500 meters above sea level, overlook Mount Lofty and sit on an outcrop of ancient schists and gneisses amidst the sandstone soils of the Adelaide Hills.
Cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc will be sourced from two historic sites: the Clarendon Vineyard Estate, managed by Emmanuelle and Toby Bekkers, and the Hickinbotham Estate, managed by viticulturist Michael Lane.
The inaugural vintage is scheduled for release in 2026.
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