Retirement from the legal profession usually means sitting back, relaxing, and maybe exploring the world at leisure.
For Mark Lewis, former partner at Walkers Law Firm, the path less travelled held much more appeal. Despite knowing little about the winemaking business, he jumped in, feet first. Thus, his ownership of Cape Landing wines – with partner Sarah – began in 2016, and it has proven to be a successful journey ever since.
In fact, in 2022, Decanter Magazine awarded 98 points to Cape Landing’s Blackwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, listing it in its top four ‘Wines of the Year’ for 2021. It was a remarkable achievement for the company, which produces a range of highly rated and award-winning wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to Rosé, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cape Landing has featured at the prestigious annual Cayman Cookout festival at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman; at luxury wine-tasting events; and premier gala dinners, where they prove to be an exceptional and versatile choice for wine-pairing occasions.
Lewis is always quick to praise his team at the vineyard, lauding their talents and hard work, but he is also very involved in the process, taking a hands-on approach.
InsideOut asked what compelled him to get into the wine trade; what he’s learned along the way; and Cape Landing’s goals in the future.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE VINEYARD BUSINESS?
After a long professional career as a lawyer in the Cayman Islands, I was determined that ‘retirement’ would mean something very different for me.
I wanted a challenge in order to stay mentally active and engaged, and a former colleague at Walkers subsequently pointed me in the direction of a rural life, making wines.
Following his fine example, and with a family background in Western Australia, I knew many years before leaving Walkers that my next career would be the wine industry in Margaret River. It offered the opportunity to operate a business that actually made something tangible for others to appreciate.
WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING THINGS YOU’VE LEARNED SINCE YOU STARTED?
Even with our exceptional and talented vineyard management, viticulture, and winemaking teams, it has just been incredibly hard – so much harder than I ever expected – to penetrate international and Australian markets to sell our wines.
We have made significant progress with the improvement and development of the vineyard and the wines we produce. The assessments our wines are receiving in Australia and internationally have been outstanding. However, global issues out of our control have all combined to create one of the most uncertain, complicated, confusing and expensive world trade scenarios in recent history.
WHY DO YOU THINK AUSTRALIAN WINES HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE PROMINENT IN THE MARKET OVER THE YEARS?
There is a real confidence about winemaking in Australia today, with an intense desire by winemakers to produce wines that better express their location. Margaret River wines really are very good – the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are well-regarded throughout the world.
There is now a determination to improve all aspects of viticulture and the way grapes are grown, with real commitment to sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming techniques.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT THUS FAR SINCE OWNING CAPE LANDING?
Without a doubt, our greatest accomplishment so far has been the production of an absolutely world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.
I set out to produce a red wine of great distinction, and I’m very proud that we produced that wine in just our second vintage year.
We were ranked up there with wine royalty that day, with Cape Landing’s Blackwood Cabernet Sauvignon sitting alongside Dom Perignon Champagne, second only to Henschke’s ‘Hill of Grace’, one of the legendary wines of Australia.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE?
The absolute and total commitment needed to produce premium fruit and make world-class wines. It’s daunting at times.
Crop failure, weather damage, risk of fire, mechanical failure, bird and insect pressure, shortage of labour, supply chain and logistical supply problems and rising fuel costs are just some of the unexpected obstacles.
However, at the end of every day, when you’re enjoying the tranquillity of a rural location at sundown with a glass of Cape Landing, or jumping into the cold, rolling surf at nearby Redgate beach, life doesn’t seem so bad at all! ■
Cape Landing wines can be found locally at Jacques Scott’s fine retail stores and ICOA in Seven Mile Shops.
This article appears in the Autumn/Winter 2022 issue of InsideOut magazine, now available at magazine stands and delivered to select homes.
