Cushendall Wines and Honeysuckle Cottage Paul and Glenda Miskelly have for decades known and been involved with friends and colleagues with a passion for wine. Paul's family were pioneers of the Taralga district in the 19th century, his immediate family having relocated in 1917. In 1988 Paul and Glenda bought an old property - the original Presbyterian Church - as a weekend getaway. Their love for Taralga - the home of his ancestors - saw them move here, bringing a later generation of the Miskelly family back to the district. They were curious to explore the grape growing potential of this region - which has much in common with the great terroir of the classic regions of cool climate vineyards in Europe. Paul and Glenda planted their first vines of Pinot Noir behind the old church and named the tiny vineyard Cushendall.

They were right - the grapes did flourish - but on a site attracting much frost during the growing season. Paul and Glenda explored the many micro-climates of the ranges and purchased a property higher in the hills - and established a new vineyard 'Glenarm' where they have planted Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, Gamay and Riesling in the classic European manner down the slopes of the hill to protect them from the extremes of the weather. This decision has paid off with Cushendall Wines being able to produce high quality cool climate wines in the Taralga area. Today they operate two vineyards, Honeysuckle Cottage - tearooms and wine sales, and Cushendall winery (behind the cottage) in Taralga.

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