Meet the Team

Jane says she and Claire have survived the Eight at the Gate Wines journey thus far because they share passion, resolve, and the ability to cope with chaos.

Passion; Jane says you wouldn't enter this business if you weren't passionate about the land. If you're seeking a fast or secure return on investment, it's not the wisest idea to put your money into growing grapes and making wine.

Resolve; Not everybody has the DNA for seeing through the highs and lows of living on the land whilst raising a young family. To survive, you need to share resolve with everybody involved to make things work, no matter what.

Touch of chaos; With so many family, staff, and friends helping at the vineyard, Jane says it's not uncommon to be feeding 20+ people after a hard day's work. The main fare consists of pot meals like curries and spaghetti bolognese, with roast lamb also common given the sisters' property is also a Black Suffolk sheep stud.

Group of children sitting on a farm fence.
Girl holding up her hands with crushed grapes on them.

Eight at the Gate Wines are produced by

  • Claire Davies
    Vigneron
  • Tom Davies
    Vineyard manager
  • Grace
    Hospitality worker at the local pub and the Naracoorte Caves and drives a tractor when needed
  • Anna
    School student, tractor driver and vineyard hand
  • Prue
    School student, livestock and wire management
  • Sam
    School student, livestock and wire management
  • Jane Richards
    Wine producer, marketing, sales and export.
  • Emma
    Studying to be a primary school teacher, helps out with social media, event sales and general farm duties
  • Jack
    Studying to be an electrician, vineyard hand, deliveries and event sales
  • Meg
    School student, social content, vineyard hand and organising anything
  • Max
    School student, livestock and wire management
Jane's family
  • Peter Douglas
    Winemaker with decades of experience to bring to the team
  • Jill Harvey (Mum) and Pam Venus (her sister)
    Vine training team, guardians of nursery (plants and children), equally at home in vineyard or kitchen
  • Richard Venus (Pam’s husband)
    Vineyard hand and designer of marketing collateral, graphic designer and photographer
  • Darryl Harvey (Dad)
    Water consultant, farming and livestock consultant (taught Jane and Claire how to look after land and water), drives a tractor (a lot)
  • Adam
    Mechanical genius and vineyard hand
  • Ben
    Event sales and deliveries

Next time you drink an Eight at the Gate wine, please raise your glass to the many, many people who've all had a hand in producing your fine drop from Wrattonbully, South Australia.