MMAD Vineyard: Rare Earth, Old Vines, Singular Vision

MMAD Vineyard is the result of a shared vision by four accomplished wine professionals — Martin Shaw, Michael Hill Smith MW, Adam Wadewitz, and David LeMire MW — who together bring decades of experience and a deep commitment to crafting site-expressive wines. Martin and Michael, cousins and co-founders of Shaw + Smith, are joined by Adam and David, who today lead Shaw + Smith as Co-CEOs, with Adam as Chief Winemaker and David as Head of Sales and Marketing.

Their shared project, MMAD Vineyard, is set in the remarkable terroir of Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, where a rare and distinctive vineyard caught their attention. The vines sit atop fine Maslin sands, over a band of ironstone—a geological combination that contributes aromatic lift, mineral tension, and structural depth to the wines. This site is not just beautiful, but geologically and viticulturally unique—a true piece of rare earth.

The vineyard is home to old-vine Grenache planted in 1939, alongside Shiraz (from 1941) and Chenin Blanc (from 1964). These venerable vines are a living testament to South Australia’s viticultural heritage, and the MMAD team approaches them with respect and care, adopting regenerative practices that prioritise soil health, vine balance, and biodiversity. Their ethos is one of stewardship—farming thoughtfully with the goal of leaving the site better than they found it.

Blewitt Springs, elevated at 150–220 metres, benefits from cooling sea breezes off Gulf St Vincent, which help preserve freshness and acidity in the fruit. Its sandy soils are famed for producing wines of elegant perfume, while ironstone outcrops add backbone and ageing potential. In Grenache, this confluence of soil, vine age, and microclimate results in wines of floral lift, clarity, and graceful depth.

Following their work on other acclaimed single-site projects—like Tolpuddle Vineyard in Tasmania and the Shaw + Smith single vineyard wines—the team is thrilled to now bring focus to this special corner of McLaren Vale. With MMAD Vineyard, they’re capturing the essence of an extraordinary site through old vines, rare geology, and a unified, deeply experienced team. 

Shaw + Smith: A Story of Vision, Craft, and Place

Founded in 1989 by cousins Michael Hill-Smith MW and Martin Shaw, Shaw + Smith is a benchmark producer in the Adelaide Hills, known for crafting expressive, modern wines that reflect their cool-climate origins. With Martin’s pragmatism and Michael’s energy for new ideas, the partnership has thrived for over three decades, fuelled by a shared commitment to quality and innovation.

From the beginning, the focus has been on varieties that suit the cooler Hills climate—Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz. Their approach is rooted in sustainable vineyard management, with a deep respect for vine and soil health, low yields, and precise site selection. Today, Shaw + Smith own four vineyards across the Adelaide Hills—Balhannah, Lenswood, Piccadilly, and Lobethal—totaling 70 hectares.

In 1999, they purchased the Balhannah property, building a winery and tasting room in time for the 2000 vintage. The winery—designed with foresight and flexibility—was a significant undertaking but set the stage for future growth. It now operates under a 2,000-tonne capacity limit, prompting a continued focus on quality over quantity.

Over the years, the leadership team has expanded to include Joint CEOs David LeMire MW and Adam Wadewitz, alongside CFO Grant Lovelock and Group Viticulturist Murray Leake. The next generation—Ella Shaw and Mathilda Hill-Smith—have also joined the family business, ensuring its legacy continues.

The Adelaide Hills, with its elevated, cool, and wet conditions, provides the perfect environment for elegant, site-driven wines. The diversity of altitude, aspect, soil, and use of different clonal selections allows Shaw + Smith to create wines of clarity and character, with each site offering something unique.

Since opening in 2000, the Balhannah Tasting Room has become a must-visit destination, offering immersive wine flights and educational experiences. The commitment to wine education is embedded not only in the cellar door but also through masterclasses, workshops, and support for industry programs like the Len Evans Tutorial and Sommeliers Australia.

As Michael Hill-Smith MW puts it: “Our 30+ years of Shaw + Smith have been about making wines that I’m genuinely excited about, genuinely proud of, and represent the best that we can possibly do.”