Tim Smith has been making wine in the Barossa for 35 years. He made wine for some of the biggest names down there, including Yalumba, Chateau Tanunda and St Hallett, before going it alone in 2001.

He was named Barossa’s Winemaker of the Year two years ago, and won the IWSC trophy for the best Shiraz in the world in 2010.

So when a mutual friend introduced us back in the summer, I knew the time was right.

Despite the glittering CV, Tim’s as humble and likeable as they come. He plays drums for a band called the Valley Cats - need I say more?

Tim tells me the secret to his wines is his access to great fruit. For decades he’s worked with the region’s best family growers, and all business is ‘done on a handshake in the pub on a Friday night’ according to Tim.

Tim sent over a case to try, and the wines were so good, the hardest bit was deciding which wines to take on for WineSpark.

I settled on two Shirazes and a Riesling, so be sure to let me know if I made the right call!