really good fruit and making different f lavours and small
production,” he explains. He produced two hundred dozen
of three batches fromof three batches from the 2013 vintage. “At first I had the 2013 vintage. “At first I had
enough famenough family and friends to buy it out of symily and friends to buy it out of sympathy but pathy but
then they camthen they came back asking for me back asking for more and so I thought, ore and so I thought,
‘This probably isn’t sym‘This probably isn’t sympathy anympathy anymore!’”ore!’”
Before long leading restaurants like Rockpool and Before long leading restaurants like Rockpool and
NomNomad in Sydney were asking to stock the wine, as well ad in Sydney were asking to stock the wine, as well
as distributors, both here and overseas. And just three as distributors, both here and overseas. And just three
years after launching his label, Nic won the 2016 years after launching his label, Nic won the 2016 GourmGourmet et
Traveller Traveller Young WYoung Wineminemaker of the Year. “Once you create aker of the Year. “Once you create
somsomething that’s really high quality and a little bit different ething that’s really high quality and a little bit different
you get pull. I’ve always tried to myou get pull. I’ve always tried to make wine that I think ake wine that I think
I would enjoy drinking: like the Albino Pinot, which is I would enjoy drinking: like the Albino Pinot, which is
strawberries and creamstrawberries and cream in a bottle, or the Portuguese in a bottle, or the Portuguese
Pirate, which is a blend of three Portuguese varieties.”Pirate, which is a blend of three Portuguese varieties.”
Nic has been based on the coast of WNic has been based on the coast of WA at WA at Wilyabrup for ilyabrup for
the past three years and is homthe past three years and is home frome from Novem November through ber through
to June. For the rest of the year he is on the road doing wine to June. For the rest of the year he is on the road doing wine
tastings and promtastings and promoting L.A.S Vino. “I love the f lexibility oting L.A.S Vino. “I love the f lexibility
of having mof having my own business and f lying around to my own business and f lying around to meet eet
people is really cool,” he admpeople is really cool,” he admits. “I would never get its. “I would never get
that experience working in finance.” that experience working in finance.”
L.A.S Vino is mL.A.S Vino is made at Pierro with made at Pierro with miniminimal intervention al intervention
and Nic plays with different varieties such as the pinot and Nic plays with different varieties such as the pinot
noir that is actually a white wine with chardonnay in it. noir that is actually a white wine with chardonnay in it.
“Creativity is the big draw, being able to experim“Creativity is the big draw, being able to experiment and ent and
see it all the way through to the person drinking it. I love see it all the way through to the person drinking it. I love
hearing that it’s interesting and delicious,” he adds. hearing that it’s interesting and delicious,” he adds.
After a decade of travel, Nic appreciates a quiet weekend After a decade of travel, Nic appreciates a quiet weekend
at homat home spent surfing, cooking with friends or indulging e spent surfing, cooking with friends or indulging
in another great love —in another great love — photography. “I enjoy M photography. “I enjoy Margaret argaret
River because there’s less of everything, not mRiver because there’s less of everything, not more. It’s ore. It’s
the subtleties of life that draw you in and until this year the subtleties of life that draw you in and until this year
I’ve never had to put an address on anything , just mI’ve never had to put an address on anything , just my namy name e
and they’d get mand they’d get my my mail to mail to me. You can go for a run on the e. You can go for a run on the
beach or surf and there’s no-one there. That’s the appeal.” beach or surf and there’s no-one there. That’s the appeal.”
Life it seemLife it seems has coms has come full circle: “I had always associated e full circle: “I had always associated
winemwinemaking with hot days in the vineyard or cleaning floors aking with hot days in the vineyard or cleaning floors
in the winery. I never saw the romin the winery. I never saw the romantic side of it. Then I found antic side of it. Then I found
another perspective; building a business up fromanother perspective; building a business up from the ground, the ground,
talking to the growers, developing blends, getting people to talking to the growers, developing blends, getting people to
try the wine —try the wine — the whole process — the whole process — as well as the hard physical as well as the hard physical
work. I found it actually fits mwork. I found it actually fits me perfectly; creativity me perfectly; creativity mixed ixed
with science, business and travel. This is a perfect career!” with science, business and travel. This is a perfect career!”
For mFor more informore information, visit lasvino.comation, visit lasvino.comMMAARGRGARARE T RE T RI VI VE R WE R WAA PPEEOOPPLLEE