At Rural Organics, we deeply value and appreciate our relationships with our amazing Organic Growers. So, it with great pleasure and excitement that we welcome award winning Organic agriculturalist’s  Jo and Don Hearn to the family.

Returning to a family owned farm in 1993 from backpacking overseas for 2 1/2 years , Don and Jo Hearn set to work establishing a 7 Ha vineyard at Jungle Lane, Caldwell, near Barham in Southern NSW.

Owning only 2 backpacks full of dirty clothes and 2 Turkish rugs, they used existing farm equipment and hard work, harvesting their first grape crop in 1999. Encouraged that their grapes were being made into medal winning wine, they decided to build their underground winery in 2002, and began making wine themselves. Knowing more about the drinking side of wine rather than the making side of wine, they decided that Jo should study winemaking, which has seen her grow in skill and confidence resulting in medals and high ratings by James Halliday. With the retirement of Don’s parents in 2011, Don and Jo took over the family’s 450 Ha beef operation, and have successfully converted the entire beef, grapes and wine operation into being fully certified organic through ACO.

2015 has seen them release their first certified organic wine (a beautiful little Semillon), with the 2016 vintage being their first chance to produce their entire range of wines under their new organic wine label. 2016 will also see the launch of the new beef arm of their business, under the Jungle Lane Beef Co. brand. Following the teaming up with Rural Organics (McClure & Daughters) in 2015, Don and Jo have begun supplying butchers and outlets in Melbourne and beyond with beautiful Certified Organic, grass fed Hereford beef.

From their cellar door, visitors can have a relaxing walk around their 25 Ha wetland, book in for a local produce lunch platter, taste wines and take home some beef for dinner as well.

For more information visit their website at: www.restdown.com.au