Kate has been making wines since 2012.
Beginning in Year 10 at school in Brisbane, Kate always wanted to be a Winemaker. Not the most common of paths, but one strongly supported by her parents.
After two gap years based in London, Kate moved down to South Australia to study a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide.
With vintage stints at Wirra Wirra (so nice she did it twice!), De Iuliius, and Mount Langi Ghiran she then started as Assistant Winemaker at Balnaves of Coonawarra. Two years later, and a move back north, a role as Assistant Winemaker at Brokenwood Wines beckoned.
Now, with more than 10 years at Brokenwood, and with the title of Winemaker, a new challenge called and Bani Vino was born.
The love song in a bottle – a special wine tribute
By Katie Spain Tuesday 30 June 2026
Kate Sturgess had it all: a great winemaking job at Hunter Valley’s Brokenwood, a career and cellar she loved, and a baby on the way.
Life was good for Kate and her partner Darby, until their son was stillborn, seven months into the pregnancy.
“I’d made all those plans for a life that didn’t happen,” Kate says.
“Sometimes the worst thing that’s happened to you makes you do all of the things that you said you would, but were probably never going to.”
Her brand Bani Vino is a tribute to their son.
“We called him Chobani when he was in the womb, so that’s where the Bani comes from,” she says.
“It’s a bit of a love song dedication to him.”
The beautiful little brand is dedicated to premium single vineyard Hunter Valley wines.
“It doesn’t need to be big or take the world by storm,” Kate says.
“It’s something physical I can point to and say, ‘That’s his’.”
This isn’t a sad story. Quite the opposite.
See the full feature story with Kate Sturgess – ‘The Love Song in a Bottle’ – by Katie Spain in WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine.
Photos: Megan Johns-Kate – MJK Creative.
