Cape Mentelle Vineyards

Raised in the wine region hub of Adelaide, Penny discovered wine through weekend winery tours in her university days. Drives to visit country friends and family were always combined with cellar door stops, which included tasting a wide range of whites, reds and ports.

Penny has over 20 years of experience in the wine and hospitality industries, starting in food and wine service then moving into training front of house staff. Having qualified as an accountant, she joined Deloitte in Adelaide, focusing on agricultural clients including key wine clients. Highlights from her experiences at Deloitte included standing on top of the tallest wine tanks in the Barossa Valley, taking in the spectacular views. In 2010, Penny joined Cloudy Bay Vineyards in New Zealand as Operations Controller, responsible for supply and financial forecasting, reporting and compliance.

Penny moved to stunning Margaret River, Western Australia in 2020, joining Cape Mentelle Vineyards. She is pleased to have discovered such wonderful wines and people at Cape Mentelle, and beams even more than her usual smiley self when speaking about the Cape Mentelle Chardonnays.

At Cape Mentelle, Penny is responsible for driving the development and delivery of brand and business strategies, whilst ensuring the wellbeing of all those connected to Cape Mentelle. She is a passionate business woman, focused on all aspects of sustainability in business outcomes.

Wine industry pioneer David Hohnen and his brothers Mark and Giles established Cape Mentelle Vineyards in 1970. Our phenomenal Cape Mentelle journey started small with just 16 hectares of vines planted on what is now referred to as the ‘Wallcliffe Vineyard’. In the early years David Hohnen experimented with grape varieties including shiraz, cabernet, zinfandel, sauvignon blanc and semillon. Many of these original plantings are the source of the distinctive wines that have come to characterise Cape Mentelle. The winery’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced primarily from the original Wallcliffe Vineyard.

In 1983 Cape Mentelle won the coveted Jimmy Watson Memorial Award for the best one year old dry red wine, and cemented its position as a premium wine maker with another win in 1984. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is now widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading cabernets.

A true local, born and raised in the South West of Western Australia, David began working in vineyards at 18 which sparked a passion for wine and viticulture. He continued to work for local wineries while completing his Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Oenology at Curtin University.

Aside from his experience in Margaret River, David has also worked in the Rutherglen and Great Western regions of Victoria and in the Rhone Valley, France. Joining Cape Mentelle in April 2014, David shares our dedication to sustainability and innovation. With over 20 years wine experience under his belt, David is focused on creating a strong, proud and passionate team. David was the winner of the 2020 viticultural excellence award at the Margaret River wine show.

David’s ongoing ambition is to ensure that the Cape Mentelle vineyards provide our winemakers with grapes of the highest quality and unlocking the secrets of growing premium Cabernet Sauvignon. When he is not in the vineyards he enjoys spending time with his young family and exploring the beautiful remote coastlines of the region.

A referral to Pierro winery in 2008 led Coralie to Margaret River and provided a platform for her to discover the incredible diversity of whites and reds in this region, with its ideal climate and maritime influence.

Coralie commenced her winemaking internship in Bordeaux at Chateau Cheval Blanc in Saint Emilion & Chateau Beychevelle in St Julien in Medoc, after studying a Masters of Oenology and Viticulture with a National Degree of Oenology at Agro-Montpellier. This pursuit of world-class Cabernet Sauvignon eventually led her to Cape Mentelle in 2015. Married to an Australian, Coralie has now settled in Margaret River and is conducting her twelfth local vintage and fifth with Cape Mentelle. When not in the cellar or vineyard Coralie likes to spend time with her young family and enjoys running her dog and riding her horse.