Winmark Wines is fresh from winning Cellar Door of the Year at the 2023 Hunter Valley Legends Awards . Karin is breaking the mould with a winery – which translates to Field of Vines in her native Danish – dedicated solely to making best-in-class chardonnay with the help of leading viticulturist Liz Riley and vineyard manager David Grosser.

The mission? To introduce drinkers to the versatility of modern chardonnay (and banish any oak-driven preconceptions). The winery, which sits at the base of Yellow Rock, also does triple duty as an art gallery and accommodation complete with a tiny home and guest houses whose walls are lined with paintings; Karin, who brought Pandora jewellery to Australia, is an avid collector of art and sculpture.

That Karin doesn’t come from a winemaking background adds to the winning equation: she questions and innovates. And, from the boutique cellar door in the old storage shed to the barista coffee cart, activities for kids and sculpture walk, everything here is executed impeccably. “What gets me out of bed in the morning? Making people happy through exceptional experiences," says Karin.