Kate Sturgess had it all: a great winemaking job at Hunter Valley’s Brokenwood, a career and cellar she loved, and a baby on the way.
Life was good for Kate and her partner Darby, until their son was stillborn, seven months into the pregnancy.
“I’d made all those plans for a life that didn’t happen,” Kate says.
“Sometimes the worst thing that’s happened to you makes you do all of the things that you said you would, but were probably never going to.”
Her brand Bani Vino is a tribute to their son.
“We called him Chobani when he was in the womb, so that’s where the Bani comes from,” she says.
“It’s a bit of a love song dedication to him.”
The beautiful little brand is dedicated to premium single vineyard Hunter Valley wines.
“It doesn’t need to be big or take the world by storm,” Kate says.
“It’s something physical I can point to and say, ‘That’s his’.”
This isn’t a sad story. Quite the opposite.
See the full feature story with Kate Sturgess – ‘The Love Song in a Bottle’ – by Katie Spain in WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine.
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WBM has been the publication for the Australian wine industry since 2005.
Photos: Megan Johns-Kate – MJK Creative.
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