MEET… Theo Truyts of Trait Wines

Trait Wines is the tale of two people from opposite ends of the earth salvaging an extraordinary old vineyard in Margaret River. We recently sat down with Theo Truyts (viticulturist and winemaker) to dig a little deeper on Trait, the wine industry, and what’s in his ears when he’s roaming around his vineyard.

Trait Wines in three words… Family. Place. Perseverance.

Trait is on a mission to… Capture a place in time. Every time we make a wine, this is the goal. That and, to create something special that people can enjoy and share.

The Trait vineyard is… a really, truly, magical place. The vines are old and closely planted in beautiful soils. The proximity to the ocean provides a moderating effect on temperatures - after the sun has warmed the east-facing slope through the morning, the sea breeze comes through to cool the block through the afternoon. The bordering Wooditjup National Park provides shelter from the worst spring gales, as well as a beautiful outlook.

What are we pairing Trait wines with?

Trait Chardonnay and eggs benedict – epic.

Our Grenache from Ferguson Valley with a spicy Thai pork dish that my wife makes – heaven.

Trait Chenin’s and anything heavy on bacon – trust me.

Most underrated wine variety… Chenin Blanc. In recent years it has gained some popularity – but I feel its versatility still remains relatively unknown and underappreciated. From bone dry iterations – to sweet dessert wines, and absolutely cracking sparkling. Chenin is so adaptable.

Where will Aussie winemaking be in another five to ten years… I think at least in the short term we are going to see winemaking trend to more conventional cleaner styles. For aromatic whites the wines might be a bit more fruit forward, and for reds I think there’ll be a return to bigger, ripe styles with more oak maturation.

Currently listening to… I spend most of my time in the vineyard, so I listen to a lot of podcasts - mainly about history, economics and wine.

Currently reading… The Biggest Estate on Earth - it’s about how the first peoples of Australia actively managed the land.

Currently sipping on… Great Southern Riesling, local Chardonnays, any light reds that we are curious about. We’ll try anything once.

To view our portfolio or organise a tasting please reach out to the Craft Alliance team on 08 9755 9361 or via the Contact Us page.