Meet the Infamous Maker: Nic Peterkin
L.A.S Vino’s 7 New Releases and Chenin Blanc of the Year
Including his 3x new release (2025) Chardonnays
Wildberry Springs | Barrels of Metricup | Southern Seas
Awarded Dark Horse Winery of the Year - Halliday Wine Companion
“These wines have a tendency to extract unexpected descriptors, flavors and experiences from the drinker, all the while portraying a classicism and accuracy of site that make them so brilliant.”
Wednesday, April 22nd
Hosted by Nic Peterkin, 2024 Winemaker of the Year
Masterclass: 5.30-7pm. 8 Wines with Kate Lamont canapes, $50
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Nic Peterkin comes from Margaret River winemaking royalty. So, it’s hardly surprising that he entered the wine industry.
His parents are Mike Peterkin of Pierro, and Shelley Cullen, of the great Cullen dynasty, and his grandparents Kevin and Di Cullen.And it is no surprise that when it comes to making wines, he does it his way. He does it differently. It’s in his DNA. And much of it was down to the influence of Peterkin the elder…
Mike has a lot of experience making wines and is willing to share his knowledge on what works and what is riskier. “I am happy to take a little more risk, he is a little more conservative, we both make great wines in different styles. Someone can enjoy classical and appreciate rock...”
After school finished, vineyard work and cellar work provided a great way to save money to travel. Working both northern and southern hemisphere’s vintage and travelling in-between seemed like a great way to live.“But after plenty of travel, and no doubt a bit of fun, he decided to get serious and take a Masters in Oenology at Adelaide University, where he ‘Spent every minute drinking, talking about and making wine, surrounded by a group of people that lived and breathed it. This passion was really infectious.
“I finished the Masters while doing vintages in the US and Mexico and by the time I got back to Margaret River in 2013 I was excited to apply my craft.I wanted to make wines that were delicious but also unique. I was excited and passionate to make wines that weren’t at that time being made in Margaret River.” And he explains why he took a different course to his father. “The focus on different or unique wines came along because I realised starting out that I couldn’t compete against the legends of Australian wine by playing by the same rules.
“There are a lot of wineries in Margaret River that make incredible wines using traditional methods and varieties. Personally, I think for Margaret River to move forward as a region, we have to learn from those great wines and the great winemakers that have come before us and build on it.
“Collectively, to grow and make better wines we need to be willing to take risks and apply new and unique methods, using a combination of luck, art and science. Sometimes it won’t work, other times it will be confronting, other times exciting. But every time you will learn something and if we share that knowledge we can grow and produce better wines.
“There is a history in Margaret River that has pursued excellence and quality as opposed to yield driven vineyards and cost cutting bulk wine. In my opinion the only way we can compete and grow as a country is by building on this. Australian wine can never win on the world stage being the cheapest. We can compete by being the best.
Ray Jordan, rayjotdanwine.com.au
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Nic Peterkin is one of Margaret River’s most exciting winemakers. While his roots run deep through one of the region’s most respected wine families, what makes Nic so compelling is the way he has carved out a style entirely his own. He brings together pedigree, global experience and a real instinct for doing things differently, without ever losing sight of quality.
That independent streak shows not only in how he makes wine, but in how he presents it to the world. From the bold and provocative Fuck You (Donald Trump) releases to his (Vladimir) Putin wine created in support of Ukraine, Nic has built a reputation for bottles that are full of personality, conviction and conversation. It is all part of what makes his wines, and the man behind them, so hard to ignore.
Aside from the fund & politics, Nic has built a reputation for wines that are thoughtful, energetic and full of personality. He is the kind of winemaker who makes a room lean in, not just because of where he comes from, but because of where he is taking Margaret River wine next.
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Through L.A.S Vino, Nic Peterkin has created a label that feels fresh, distinctive and a little daring. Built on the idea of Luck, Art and Science, the wines are minimal intervention, maximum flavour, with a focus on character, site and drinkability. Made in small quantities and with a real sense of intent, they are not designed to fit the mould. They are made to say something.
From the Chenin Blanc of the Year to his new 2025 Chardonnay releases, Nic’s wines have earned attention for good reason. They are expressive, finely tuned and full of energy, showing just how exciting Margaret River can be when curiosity and precision go hand in hand. There is personality in every bottle, but also serious craftsmanship, which is what makes L.A.S Vino such a compelling label to taste.
L.A.S Vino
Using luck, art, and science (L.A.S.) we aim to make absolutely delicious, delectable, desirable drops and to discover new flavours in the world of wine. Based in Margaret River, Western Australia, our mantra is minimal intervention with maximum flavour and where possible we aim to work with growers using sustainable, organic and biodynamic vineyard methods. We hope you enjoy drinking the wines as much as we enjoyed making them. (L.A.S Vino)
Awards and Accolades:
The Real Review’s ‘Top Wineries of Australia’ for 2025
L.A.S. Vino has achieved a remarkable milestone, securing the 36th position in The Real Review’s 2025 Top Wineries of Australia list. This leap from 206th place in 2024 marks a 170-spot climb, underscoring the winery's rapid ascent in the national wine scene.
Situated in Margaret River, L.A.S. Vino now ranks among the top three wineries in Western Australia, alongside esteemed names like Cullen Wines (9th) and Cherubino Wines (31st). This distinction is particularly noteworthy given L.A.S. Vino's boutique scale; as a small-batch producer, it stands out as the only winery of its size to achieve such a high ranking in the awards.
Ray Jordan’s WA Wine Review 2024 ‘Winemaker of The Year’ | Nic Peterkin
“Peterkin’s wines are some of the most interesting and fascinating of any in Australia”
Top 100 Wineries Australia - Halliday Wine Companion 2024 & 2023
Awarded ‘Dark Horse Winery of the Year’ 2023 - Halliday Wine Companion
The Wine List
L.A.S Vino CBDB Chenin Blanc 2024 (Last Stocks Available), Our Price $59
Chenin Blanc of the Year - 2026 WA Wine Review
L.A.S Vino SBDB Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (New Release), Our Price $59
L.A.S Vino Albino PNO Rose 2025 (New Release), Our Price $55
L.A.S Vino 'Wildberry Springs' Chardonnay 2025 (New Release), Our Price $65
L.A.S Vino 'Barrels of Metricup' Chardonnay 2025 (New Release), Our Price $65
L.A.S Vino 'Southern Seas' Chardonnay 2025 (New Release), Our Price $65
L.A.S Vino Pinot Noir 2025 (New Release), Our Price $55
L.A.S Vino Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 (New Release), Our Price $69