This is Kevin Karstrom. He used to be a merchant banker with Merryl Lynch, but he bailed a long time ago and bought an organic vineyard called Botobolar on the outkirts of the wine region around Mudgee. Mudgee is our nearest big town. Kevin is an American and he tried his hand at sheep when he left the big smoke, but sheep nearly sent him broke, so he stuck to wine making. The vineyard was estsablished in the 1960s or early 1970s by a journalist from Sydney who had had enough. He discovered that bugs were eating his grapevines when he tried to do without toxic sprays. Somehow he stumbled on the idea of leaving the weeds and grasses under the vines, giving the bugs something else to eat. After all, by taking away the weeds he was taking away their food, so they ate his vines.
Kevin is a cheery fellow and his shirt is cheery too on this Saturday afternoon when Louisa and I visit him. One of his sons was helping him with the wine vats and forgot to turn off a tap or something.
Anyhow we always by 3 dozen bottles when we visit, which is twice or three times a year. Kevin does a great Shiraz called The King after Elvis Presley. It is meaty, beaty, big and bouncy! Mudgee is famous for its big reds.
WHy don't you visit Kevin on www.botobolar.com and have a look around. You might even buy some wine. He'll ship it to you.
Cheers!
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