Sarah’s first journey up the long, winding driveway, with majestic red gum trees and the estate's raw beauty, left an indelible impression – It took her breath away. As a dancer for the Australian Ballet, she became accustomed to city living, with a career that took her around the World.

Now, she couldn’t possibly imagine another place to call home. Together with her husband Phil, their children Lewis and Olive, a greyhound named Jinx, two Alpacas and a flock of Australian White Sheep, the family has built a wonderful life here at Boongarie Estate. Sarah hopes that a glimmer of this stunning place finds its way into the glass of wine you share or the olive oil you enjoy.

As a second-generation winemaker, Phil’s approach to the craft has been shaped by a life in wine. His parents, Margaret and Peter Lehmann remain a close source of inspiration. While initially plying his trade as an engineer, Phil’s love for wine and passion for the Barossa Valley kept calling him home. His journey to Boongarrie Estate included tenures in Napa Valley, Burgundy, and Stellenbosch, alongside storied Barossa wineries. He holds a graduate diploma in Oenology from Adelaide University.

At heart, Phil is as much a farmer as he is a winemaker – ”I love that the grapes tell a unique story of what they experienced during their growing season. With winemaking, it's our job to capture the beauty of the fruit you've grown, so that it can continue to be enjoyed over the months, years, and decades to come."

Living on the land is a rewarding life, full of hard work and new challenges. We wouldn't have it any other way. Alongside our winemaking facilities, where our grapes are carefully crafted into Max & Me wines, we have a vineyard, olive grove, and grazing land for our Australian White sheep and pair of Alpacas (Dave and Bendy). We believe it's our responsibility tread lightly on the land, leaving it in better condition than when we found it.

In our downtime, family is at the heart of everything that we do. We often enjoy our time together on two wheels, riding both mountain and dirt bikes through the rugged estate terrain. Jinx, our current canine companion, enjoys the run of the property alongside our children Lewis and Olive. Max, our German Shepherd cross, responsible for first introducing Phil and Sarah, lives on as the namesake of our wine.