Meet Sam Miranda

I was fortunate enough to catch up with Sam Miranda, a third generation winemaker from a prominent Italian family, who moved to Australia in the 1930s.  After his family sold their business in 2003, wine was still in Sam's veins so when he was twenty five years old, he decided to brave it on his own and never looked back. Starting from the bottom at the young age of 25 was challenging for Sam but also rewarding. Sam found it a very different experience when he didn't have the backing of his family but one he grew from.

Sam was fortunate enough to purchase his family vineyard, as well as a property in the Myrrhee district to start his own wine called Sam Miranda. This property is home to magnificent views and scenic mountains. No day is ever the same for Sam and that is exactly why he loves it.

Sam tells us that his Italian heritage definitely comes out more the older he gets. Sam is starting to embrace the lifestyle in everything he makes and does. Sam now produces his own salami, grows figs and has a vegetable garden that supplies all the greens to his cellar door kitchen much like the traditional self-sufficient Italian ideals.

We love putting Sam's wines in our gift boxes. They taste lovely and we really enjoy supporting a business who's values align so well with ours. See some of the gift boxes with Sam's wines such as A Touch of Gourmet, Summer Time Picnic, Family Fun and Celebration Prosecco.

Hear what Sam has to say in our short interview below:

 Tell us a little bit about you

My Family has been involved in the wine industry since the 1930s when they started Miranda wines, so if you know what Passion Pop is, well that that was my family. People owe my dad a bit of gratitude for launching the popular Passion Pop. And so do I because Passion Pop basically put me through school! In the late 90s and early 2000s, we bought a vineyard down in King Valley which is where we are now I bought it from the family in 2003 and started my own brand called Sam Miranda Wine. 

Tell me about the King Valley

Its a great area, when the family first bought the property we used to go down there because it's right near the ski fields near Mount Hotham and Fall's Creek, so that was always a bit of a passion of mine and still is.  The property is beautiful with a nice big valley that runs through it and mountains either side. At this time of year there is snow on the caps, so its just a really pretty place and I've always loved the area and I've made a little home there. 

\What are you working on at the moment?

There are always new things happening at the King Valley, especially the Italian varieties, Prosecco is obviously our main thing and we've been doing that since 2008, and our wine types that have been around for a while. We're working on developing and seeing what does best. One of our latest products is a sparkling Shiraz called Bolle NV Shiraz Durif and will be perfect for the upcoming festive season.

Why do you like working with Country Culture?

We don't sell to Dan Murphy or Coles or anything like that because dealing with owner operators is the best way to go. It's simple, just a couple of emails or calls and a handshake and the job is done. Working with Country Culture has been a fantastic relationship and I hope it continues, the garage is there, it's always stocked and there's plenty there.