Art of Krupinski: The new kids on the block
Artur and Natalia enjoy being exposed to new places and ideas, and life felt different when they returned to Brisbane after seven years of travelling. They started searching for a new place to call their own and found their dream vineyard in the Granite Belt.
The real estate advertisement was picture-perfect and Artur and Natalia saw a world of opportunities in the rural block. It had dams, a well-established vineyard, and clearings that could be used for expansion.
The settlement took longer than expected and tested their desire for the property. There were many evenings when Artur returned home with no news for the young family. Despite each setback, they felt more certain of their decision every time they overcame a hurdle together.
Laying the foundations
They finally moved in during the winter of 2021. Immediately, they started learning the art of winemaking and investing in equipment. They had a vision of an inclusive, family-run winery that celebrated tradition just as much as the liveliness of youth.
Many people were surprised by the young family’s ambition, but that didn’t slow them down. Once they were on the property, they set their minds on offering a new type of vineyard to the community. They had grown to love generational vineyards while travelling and embraced their Polish heritage, culture, and immersive hospitality as their point of difference.
Mike Hayes guided Artur and Natalia in their approach to winemaking in the early days. One of the most important lessons he taught them was to represent the berry and soil profile. The Granite Belt produces a unique style of wine because of its cool climate and ancient granite landscape. He taught them that the vineyard is the true workhorse and there is no need to mimic other styles of wine if you make the right moves early on.
Together, they developed a wine style that is light, modern, and al fresco. Art of Krupinski’s wines are a celebration of the fruit flavours that emerge from the Granite Belt and are perfect for Queensland’s climate. However, coastal and country styles are appreciated equally. When the grape calls for it, classical wine is honoured with French oak barrels and deeper tones.
Faster, better, smarter
I’ve found a rhythm and am focused on experimentation so that we can push forward to the next level. I’m confident that we can continue adding something fresh, new, and exciting to the wine industry.
After seeing the amount of work involved in running a vineyard first-hand, they looked for faster, smarter, and better ways to make beautiful wine. Artur’s background in civil engineering granted him a procedure-driven mindset and he searched for ways to save time.
In the first year, he documented how many hours each activity took in the vineyard and analysed the peaks and troughs in labour throughout each season. By year two, he had a clear picture of the work involved and started investing in equipment that would enable his family to spend more quality time together. Now, data tech is the focus. He has purchased water capture modules that help him identify when to irrigate, as well as foliage tech to monitor vine health and drones to keep birds away.
According to Artur, “We had a limited budget so we had to choose wisely. Every investment we made was about minimising time outlay in the vineyard. I’ve started to meet like-minded people in the community who are just as keen on automation. We’re all catching the same wave and that’s exciting. Technology might even entice more young people, who appreciate the hard work involved in agriculture back into the industry.”
A rush of young blood
Many of the first visitors at the cellar door asked, “Was it your parent’s property?” They figured that the young family must have been immersed in wine their whole life.
It was surprising for people to hear that Artur and Natalia had taken over the property two years ago knowing nothing about winemaking. Some even advised them that they were moving too fast.
Artur recalls many sleepless nights and a lot of unknowns. “It wasn’t until our first anniversary of being on the property that we felt an unspoken acceptance that we had survived so far. Year two was about proving our viability and repeating the success of year one. It’s not until this year, my third growing season, that I feel like I’m in control and can anticipate what’s to come. I’ve found a rhythm and am focused on experimentation so that we can push forward to the next level. I’m confident that we can continue adding something fresh, new, and exciting to the wine industry.”
Follow the bear
The young family is eager to continue making delicious wine and establishing their roots. They took the plunge because they wanted to be the start of a family-run vineyard. Their dream is to see their grandchildren working at Art of Krupinski and believe that the Granite Belt has a bright future ahead of it.
Many people think of the cool alpine region as a winter wonderland, but it’s also a refreshing summertime escape with an energetic community of winemakers to meet.
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