Peter and Ann Wormald first visited the Mudgee region in the early 80's. They fell in love with the area and dreamed of owning their own vineyard — an impossible dream back then but one that would not go away...

Over the years, we'd visit Mudgee two or three times a year with friends and many a happy hour was spent in the few cellar doors that were open at the time. These visits always included a drive down Eurunderee Lane on our way from Huntington to Miramar. It was a dirt road then and not always in the best condition, but it had this fabulous old house on one of the properties. It intrigued us and we always commented about what you could do with that house!

Well, dreams sometimes do come true and when in 1995, we decided to either buy or develop a vineyard, there was a property for sale in Eurunderee Lane that had soil well suited for vines, was close to town and other wineries AND it had that 'intriguing' house on it!  Willow Lane Vineyard — the dream was all of a sudden a reality!

However, the hard work was only just beginning. Peter spent 6 years doing a degree in Viticulture whilst working full-time and Ann went back into pharmacy after many years in the pharmaceutical industry.

The Chardonnay vines were planted in 1996 (11 acres) and the Shiraz (9 acres) in 1997.  The Shiraz vines then had to be re-planted in 1998

— nobody said that dreams always run smoothly!! Our first vintage was in 2000. We left Sydney in early 2002 to move to Mudgee permanently. By the end of 2002, the 'intriguing house', which was built in the 1870s, had a new extension and is now very loved and cared for.

The cellar door was opened at Easter in 2004. We had saved and recycled as much material from the old extension on the house as we could, including the galvanised iron from the roof and the old Bullnose verandah, which now adds to the rustic charm of the cellar door. We have the most wonderful views over the vineyard, looking back to Pipeclay Creek and the hills, and the occasional mob of kangaroos in the back paddock.