End of an era

Born in East Africa to English parents working in coffee production, Andrew Toomey was introduced early to the rhythms of agricultural life. His family later settled in Australia, first among the table grape growers of Sunraysia—Andrew’s first true exposure to vineyard culture—before moving to the Hunter Valley, Ararat, back to Sunraysia, onto McLaren Vale and eventually to Armstrong in Victoria’s Grampians wine region.

Andrew’s professional journey in wine began in the cellar at Seppelt, a formative “first real job” that set the direction for his lifelong career. He later returned to Mildura to study viticulture and horticulture, settling there for several years as manager of a large orchard for Yandilla Park. A move to South Australia brought him back fully into viticulture through a role with Coriole Wines in McLaren Vale.

In the mid-1990s, Andrew returned to the Grampians region, becoming Vineyard supervisor at Glenlofty Vineyard in the Pyrenees and later Vineyard Manager at Seppelt’s Great Western vineyard.

Establishing Miners Ridge

In 1998, Andrew and his wife Katrina purchased their property in Armstrong—just across the road from his parents’ established vineyard, which Andrew would later take over. The site, once a deer farm on former Chinese goldfields, was chosen for its viticultural potential and reliable access to water via the Grampians wastewater pipeline.

With the help of friends and family, the Miners Ridge Vineyard was planted over the next three years, beginning with a small block of Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder in Shiraz. In more recent years, parts of the Shiraz have been grafted to Tempranillo, Riesling, and Chardonnay to diversify production and respond to demand.

For the next decade, Andrew balanced his work at Seppelt with managing his own vineyard and growing a viticultural contracting business serving small vineyards across the region. Eventually, the workload grew too great, and he stepped away from Seppelt to focus fully on Miners Ridge and his contracting work.

 Growth

In the early 2010s, following the sudden passing of close friend and neighbour Kym Ludvigsen, Andrew and Katrina began leasing the Ludvigsen vineyard from Kym’s wife—a partnership that continued until 2024. This expansion allowed them access to additional varieties and greater volume for supplying grapes to a range of wineries.

Although Andrew and Katrina describe themselves primarily as grape growers, they produced small quantities of wine under the Miners Ridge label. What began as homemade wine for family and friends gradually evolved into a commercial pursuit, supported by professional winemakers including Adam Wadawidz, Justin Purser, Adam Richardson, and currently Jacob Parton.

Through his contracting business, Andrew has played a role—sometimes large, sometimes subtle—in shaping many of the vineyards throughout the Grampians and Pyrenees. He has planted, grafted, pruned, sprayed, slashed, consulted, and nurtured vines that have produced fruit for a long list of wineries, including:

• Best’s Wines
• Mount Langi Ghiran
• Black & Ginger
• SubRosa
• Grampians Estate
• Fratin Brothers
• Seppelt
• Pomonal Estate
• Clarnette & Ludvigsen
• Trentham Estate
• Story Wines
• Michael Unwin Wines
• Bended Knee Wines
• Fallen Giants
• And many others

It is fair to say that over the years, Andrew has had a hand—directly or indirectly—in the making of many wines across the region.

Recognition & Reputation

Despite his modesty and preference for simply “getting on with the work,” Andrew has developed a strong reputation for producing premium grapes revered by local winemakers. While he never sought accolades, Miners Ridge wines have received multiple awards over the years. Most recently, the 2022 Miners Ridge Shiraz won Best Shiraz, Best Red, and Champion Wine at the 2024 Ballarat Wine Show, followed by a Gold Medal at the National Wine Show and recognition presented by the Premier at the Victorian Wine Show’s Premier’s Challenge. Andrew was especially proud of this acknowledgement.

Looking Ahead

Now, in 2026, after decades of dedicated work, Andrew has decided it’s time to slow down. He and Katrina have sold their Armstrong property and plan to complete one final vintage before retiring from grape growing. Miners Ridge Wines will continue for a few more years, supported by existing stock, giving both longtime followers and new customers the chance to enjoy the fruits of Andrew’s lifelong craft.

The sale of the vineyard will mark the end of an extraordinary chapter in the Grampians wine industry—one shaped by Andrew’s quiet dedication, deep expertise, and significant influence on the vineyards and wines of the region.