Flowstone Queen of the Earth Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (6 x 750mL), WA.

Flowstone is the distillation of 30 years of winemaking of Stuart Pym, and the unbridled passion for great wine of Phil Giglia.

Stuart started in the wine industry in 1983 when he moved to Margaret River to help his parents in their vineyard and winery in Willyabrup. 1983 was the keystone year when his parents started their own wine label – Sussex Vale – and moved to Margaret River full time. This vineyard has since become the well regarded Hayshed Hill.

Stuart has subsequently spent time winemaking at Voyager Estate (1991 - 2000), Devil’s Lair (2000 - 2008) and Stella Bella (2008 - 2013). In addition, he worked at Matilda Bay Brewing Company in its heyday during the late 1980’s, and has worked several vintages overseas and in the eastern states.

Stuart and his partner started the Suckfizzle brand in the late 1990’s, and the Stella Bella brand in the early 2000's. Planting the Flowstone vineyard mirrored his parent’s activities of the late 1970’s; and releasing the Flowstone brand, and committing to it full time in 2013, completes the 30 year family circle.

Phil first became bewitched by wine via the University Wine Club, which he joined while studying at UWA in the early 1980's. The spark had been lit. Subsequent work at George Cellars in the late eighties made him aware of the breadth of world wine, and the myriad of styles and stories it contains. It also enabled him to stare at the bottles he would never be able to afford. It would be safe to say that Phil is now a confirmed wine tragic - which is not a bad thing at all.

Stuart and Phil met at a Margaret River Great Estates lunch in the late 1990's. That probably says enough in itself! Ideas, pipe dreams, and concepts have finally made it to fruition after all those years.