Kieran and Sue O’Brien from Neville have completed the trek to Tuscany to enjoy just that lifestyle, but they also get it everytime they walk out the front of their home and gaze upon their 262 acre property called Oakleigh Vigneto and Fattoria,  that nestles up against the Neville Common.

The couple are so entranced by the Italian lifestyle they’ve transformed what was a simple kit home into a cement rendered Italianesque villa, complete with a bell tower, and are in the process of transforming their hobby vineyard that covers half an acre, into a bio-dynamic vineyard from which they will make their own wine.

The decison to abandon the Australian way of growing vines, which Kieran has been nurturing since 2002, came after staying in Tuscany for six months, helping out at local vineyards.

“We rented a villa in Valgiano in northern Tuscany and I would go from vineyard to vineyard and with my limited Italian and their English I was able to learn some of the techniques that they use,” he said.

Of major differences were the treatment of the vines, and how the smaller producers are combating the big companies.

“Italy is now the biggest producer of wine in the world and to develop a point of difference a lot of the smaller producers are going bio-dynamic or organic so that they stand out,” he said.

From pruning the vines to crushing the fruit, the couple, along with their winemaker Alastair Dunham from Silverhill House wines, will be taking a new approach to this year’s vintage.

“Previously we’ve taken the fruit into Millthorpe for pressing, but this year we’re going to do it right here on site,” Kieran said.

With an output of 750 litres, the vineyard produces 1000 bottles and the pair are more than happy with that.

“It’s a passion really,” Kieran said, “We don’t do it for the money at all, it’s all about furthering my education in the winemaking process and being able to produce something from the ground to the bottle without using many chemicals, finings or suphites.”

The pinot noir and shiraz vines aside, the couple are also planning on using the property as a unique wedding destination.

“We had our two daughters weddings here and are now looking for partners to help get something established out her,” Sue said. “If there are caterers or photographers interested please call us.”