By Melissa Walsh Photos: Yanni
W
hen mother of three, keen gardener, and former school teacher, Karen Panton, moved to the peninsula 20 odd years ago, she would never have dreamed of one day running her own winery. But as life often takes us on a journey we least expect, Karen has used all her talents and lots of hard work to create a successful and thriving business at Panton Vineyard in Shoreham. Overseeing the 11 hectare property with six hectares of grapes is a full time job which the 53 year old thrives on. “I love creating an experience for friends, family and guests with wonderful wine and tasting plates and know this is exactly where I’m meant to be,” says Karen, sitting at her cellar door looking out over the vineyard. “I have tried to create an experience like being in Tuscany, with a long wooden table under the trees overlooking the grape vines, and a casual and welcoming atmosphere.” Overseeing and living on an 11 hectare winery in Shoreham is as good as it sounds, according to Karen, who lives a life most could only imagine, where her day begins waking up with the sun, putting on her boots and doing the rounds of the property with her dog, Bear.
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60 | PENINSULA
Winter 2016
“That seems to be my routine with Bear most days. We feed the chooks, and do a lap of the property, feed the horse and go right down to the lake and do the rounds. Usually when I do that I start formulating my idea of what I’m going to do that day. By the time I’ve had my breakfast I have a plan for the day. It could be doing a few hours in the vegetable garden, working amongst the vines, setting up for wine tasting, garden maintenance or even bookkeeping. Although I tend to be keener on the outdoor activities,” she says with a laugh. “This time of year I start pruning the vines and making plans for winter improvements. We will close after the winter wine weekend and then reopen at the end of September. That way we can get all the projects done we have in mind.” Although Karen was born in the UK and lived most of her life in cities, she has always had a penchant for the country life. “When we lived in Horsham many years ago I loved the country people and decided to move to the peninsula after that for the rural lifestyle. I always felt the most at home on farms and loved this property from the moment I saw it. It was very run down continued next page...