The Story Behind The Wine Revival

By Dave Cush, Founder & Winemaker

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a winemaker.

In fact, if you’d met me in the early ‘90s, I was a pretty miserable law student in Brisbane, slowly drowning in constitutional law textbooks. Luckily, life threw me a lifeline in the form of a job at a local wine shop. Turns out, chatting about Shiraz and uncorking bottles was a hell of a lot more enjoyable than dissecting legal precedents.

So I ditched the law and headed south to Wagga Wagga to study Viticulture. It was there I met Kris. She was studying Wine Science, and I was... well, mostly following her around campus. Thankfully, she tolerated me, and before long we found ourselves on her family farm on Tasmania’s east coast, making wine for their family label, Spring Vale.

That was the real beginning.

Working with incredible fruit, grown in one of the most pristine wine regions in the country, was a dream. But with great fruit comes great responsibility and let me tell you, that responsibility was terrifying. The margin for error was razor-thin, and I quickly learned that making wine is about a thousand tiny decisions done right.

Over 12 years, Kris and I raised a family (three boys!), made wines we were proud of, and eventually set our sights back north to Brisbane to try something new.

The Urban Winery Experiment

In 2019, we took the plunge and opened City Winery Brisbane, one of Australia’s only inner-city wineries. We brought winemaking to the people, holding tastings, dinners, and making wine on-site. It was raw, real, and deeply personal. Everything we love about wine.

But like many in hospitality, we were hit hard. In late 2024, we made the heartbreaking decision to close the doors. It was brutal, emotionally and physically. But even through the grief, one thing remained: the wine.

Enter: The Wine Revival

What do you do with a shed full of beautiful wine and a city full of people who still love to drink it?

You start again, with fewer middlemen, more heart, and a better way to connect makers and drinkers. That’s what The Wine Revival is all about.

We’re a direct-to-market, tech-savvy wine business that cuts through outdated distribution systems. We connect wine lovers with honest, handcrafted wines made by people who care. No BS, no markups, just good wine and real stories. Straight from us to you.

Why It Matters

In a world where wine is often over-marketed and underwhelming, we want to bring it back to what matters: craftsmanship, connection, and joy.

So if you’re tired of soulless bottles and want to drink something with meaning. Welcome to the revival.

How You Can Be Part of the Revival

Every purchase from our online shop supports more than just great wine, it backs independent growers and passionate makers doing things the right way. These wines have been poured for thousands of happy drinkers, and now they’re ready for your table.

Love what we’re doing? Spread the word. Share a bottle. Tell a mate. It all helps.

Thanks for being part of the revival.

Dave
Founder, Winemaker, Grape Whisperer