About Us

Hello!  And thanks for stopping by our new (basic now, but always improving!) online store.  Well - when I say "our", I should probably clarify that the driving force behind The Wine Revival is me... I'm Dave Cush.  I've been a winemaker now for about 25 years.  If you really want to read my backstory, I've put it below in the "Who is Dave?" section.

For now, all you really need to know is that in all my time in the wine industry, I've met and collaborated with so many incredible people that I'm left feeling filled with gratitude.  Wine is not an industry people stay in for the money (wrong industry for that...) but for the love of it.  It's kind of hard to explain but it's probably something like communal support that binds us together.  Farming is hard, growing grapes can be brutal, selling wine is harder than ever, and the big boys continue to extend their dominance.  We're headed for a corporatised wine industry where the consumers end up with less to choose from and the independent growers and makers get squeezed out.  I've seen it first hand, and it's heartbreaking.

Enter The Wine Revival.  The mission is simple yet lofty: save the independent wine industry.  How? By helping all my friends in Australian Wine (including those I haven't met yet) to not only survive this bleak landscape, but to find ways to thrive.  See, I'm not only one of said independent winemakers (the Gerler and Franco wines on this site are here because of me and a cast of collaborators) but I'm also driven to do what I can to help the industry that has taught me so much (some of it was even about wine).  The most practical way for me to help is to provide another sales channel for winemakers like me - and that's where you come in!

How you can help

This online shop is your portal to source wines that have been tested on crowds of happy drinkers extensively - whilst chipping in to give our independent growers and makers a hand.  Spreading the word is a great way to help us to help others.

Thanks in advance for doing your bit!

Who is Dave?

I started with wine in Brisbane in the 90s when I was a miserable law student...I had a job in a wine shop which I found to be a lot more enjoyable than constitutional law!

I quit law and relocated to Wagga Wagga (don't call Wagga Wagga Wagga though, as the locals say) to study Viticulture.  It was there I met my future wife, Kris, who was studying the Wine Science degree.  I followed her around for a bit and gradually wore her down until we ended up back at her family farm on the East Coast of Tassie where we were fortunate enough to look after the winemaking for their family brand, Spring Vale.

It was during this time that I learned the extreme importance of paying attention to the tiniest detail when it comes to winemaking. Admittedly, this was borne mostly out of terror...working with incredible fruit was one thing (amazing) but being responsible for guiding said incredible fruit into bottle without stuffing it up - well that's where the terror came in.

Gradually I became used to the terror and Kris and I went on to make some fantastic wines during our time down there.  It was truly a special time for us, especially since we were lucky enough to have three boys to add to the chaos!  After 12 years, we made the difficult decision to move to Queensland to test out this idea of creating an urban winery in Brisbane.  Thus began the rollercoaster that is ongoing... In that time we launched City Winery Brisbane.  Our wines were loved by many, we had the privilege of working with scores of amazing people and sharing our love of wine with the good folk of Brisbane.

But sadly, in late 2024, the hospitality business ceased trading amidst an extremely challenging trading environment.  It was emotionally and physically traumatic for all involved, and I'm not sure I will ever heal those wounds completely.  However, I still have a shed load of wine, and it's all delicious.

So, here we are...a shed full of wine, a city full of wine drinkers, help me bring those two things together!!!