Our Winemakers

Oliver Crawford - Chief Winemaker

Oliver Crawford joined Devil's Lair in July 2008. He brings with him a long record of experience and success as the winemaker who has produced one of Australia's finest and most textured Chardonnays.

Oliver has access to a collection of vineyards known for their expressive fruit power, dynamic acidity and longevity in the bottle. "The biggest difference I see here is the maritime influence and the soils. The fact that temperatures are so consistent means we get extremely good and even ripening, so much so that I question how cool a climate we really are.

"Margaret River and Devil's Lair in particular is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and the muscularity of its tannins. It's something we want to express as they come naturally from our site. However I also want to refine them and meld them with our vibrant natural acidity to make more silky and layered wines."

Simon Robertson - Viticulturalist

Simon Robertson has been the viticulturalist at Devil's Lair since 1993 and comes from generations of great grape growers. He has nurtured the Estate from its adolescence and planted most of the vineyards on it.

"In spring we want an open canopy to ensure sunlight and a good crop for next year. We need to avoid grapes sitting on grapes and for our shoots to be long enough to support the fruits without shading it excessively.

During the summer we want to ensure the vine is able to mature the fruit without it becoming stressed. Every variety has a different need to be managed and we can't use a blanket approach.

Precision viticulture is now part of our management habit. Each year we take spectral images of our vineyards to identify high and low vigour sections that correlate to differences in quality that aren't always obvious to the eye".

Michael Kane - Winemaker

Fresh out of high school, Michael landed a job at a wine auctioneers in Perth. Over months of cataloguing and packing bottles, Michael developed a curiosity and passion for wine. What he used to see as just stock became something else. He became interested in the vintages, the regions, the houses and the varieties. In the early 90s in a stockroom in Perth, Michael's passion was born

Michael pursued this interest and set out to gain formal qualifications in winemaking. Born and bred in Perth, Michael studied close to home at Curtin University where he undertook a Bachelor of Science specialising in oenology and viticulture. Immediately after graduation, Michael started at Devil's Lair as casual cellar hand working on the 2007 vintage. Through years of hard work Michael has earned his role as winemaker and part of the esteemed Devil's Lair team.

Ben Miller - Winemaker

Growing up in the Hunter Valley, one of Australia's great wine regions, Ben was probably always destined for the industry. After completing a degree in Biochemistry, he returned to the Hunter and a job at Tyrells, learning first-hand the unique relationship between vine and wine. As his interest grew into a passion, Ben followed it through the famous wine regions of France and, eventually, back to Australia and the Margaret River.

Ben's technical skills - he's also completed a degree in Oenology - perfectly complement his sheer delight in the challenges and teamwork of winemaking. "I believe in making wines that reflect our way of living. They should be pure, fresh and nothing short of delicious." At Devil's Lair, Ben has found the perfect home for his skills, enthusiasm and commitment to great wine.