Growing up, Nicky Oatley always thought she’d have her own wine brand. That may seem like a wild childhood idea, but it helps to know that she grew up among the vines in the Hunter Valley.

Nicky’s late grandfather Bob Oatley established the hugely successful Rosemount Estate, and her father Sandy was also behind the business. “Dad and I would walk the vineyards together and he’d teach me everything there was to know about viticulture,” Nicky says.

There was an “unspoken rule” that she would one day join the family wine business, and now, a few detours and several decades later, Nicky is well and truly involved – complete with that wine brand of her own. The new Nicole Oatley Wines range is made up of just two premium wines, launching with the 2023 Chenin Blanc from Swan Valley, and 2022 Cabernet Franc from Margaret River.

“I just love chenin and cabernet franc – they’re light and bright, and very elegant wines,” Nicky says. The two varieties may be food-friendly classics that hail from France’s Loire Valley, but these Western Australian regions are nailing the styles, as seen in this small-batch duo. Made by the Oatley family’s long-time vigneron and winemaker Larry Cherubino, this is a very classy debut. 

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It marks a new chapter for Nicky, who spent almost 20 years working on Hamilton Island, which Bob bought after selling Rosemount Estate in one of the wine world’s most notable deals.

Nicky started out in the call centre, where she’d listen to people complain about their holidays, providing critical intel that inspired the island’s reinvigoration.

“We knew Hamilton Island was in desperate need of investment and renovation at the time, but I was losing sleep over us not delivering on a promise. That’s not what my family was, or is, about, so I became passionate about fixing it up,” Nicky says.

Luxe resort Qualia followed, along with the island’s yacht club, golf club and more, plus coveted marquee events, including the annual Hamilton Island Race Week.  It all sounds idyllic, but when the opportunity arose for Nicky to join Sandy in the wine side of the family business, she didn’t hesitate. The two have always worked especially well together, and the move into wine felt like a long time coming.

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“I’ve always had this connection to agriculture and the land. And everyone has so much respect for my grandfather and Dad, it’s amazing to continue that legacy,” Nicky says. “It should feel overwhelming, but it feels right. I feel like everything I’ve done at Hamilton Island has set me up for what I’m doing now in the wine industry.” 

It also doesn’t hurt to have winemaker Larry Cherubino on their side. Based in WA, and with decades of experience working with vineyards around that state and beyond, the award-winning producer was able to source the finest fruit for Nicole Oatley Wines.

The 2023 Swan Valley vintage was one of the best for chenin blanc in 20 years – the region is celebrated for its benchmark Australian chenin – while Margaret River also turned it on for cabernet franc in 2022, delivering serious quality.

The release of Nicole Oatley Wines is a real full-circle moment for Nicky, and she’s thrilled with what’s in the bottle. “It was important to me that the chenin had clarity of fruit, and I love that it’s elegant yet has layers of complexity,” she says.

Meanwhile, the cabernet franc is all juicy dark fruits, with exceptional brightness and intensity, making it a deliciously versatile and approachable red. “They are very much food wines to sit down with and enjoy over a meal.”

For more information on the Nicole Oatley Wines range, visit the website.

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