Image via Limestone Coast
Sue Bell, founder of Bellwether Wines in South Australia’s south-east, didn’t get anything handed to her.
Working hard is a way of life for her. Long hours were spent creating all that she has today, and even longer hours are needed to maintain what is now Bellwether Wines.
Sheep were still shorn in the cellar door, which was previously a shearing shed, until 2009. Sensitively renovated, it is now home to a boutique winery, community kitchen, cellar door, produce garden and campground.
Located in the famous Coonawarra wine region, its been 17 years in the making, with Sue saying the business was finally on track to turn its first profit in 2020 before COVID changed everything.
When border closures kept South Australians close to home, the winery saw a surge in visitors and demand, prompting the business to scale up staffing and operations. They were heavily reliant on local visitors from SA and Victoria, but when travel international reopened, that momentum quickly disappeared.
“We were really quiet for a couple of years,” Sue said.
At the same time, unexpected setbacks built around an already building pressure, took a toll on Sue. On top of everything, roadworks outside the property during a peak trading period left customers unable to access the venue.
“People would just drive past… or say they didn’t know how to get in,” she said. “We thought we’d get compensation for the disruption, but we never did.”
“When things got tough, I just worked harder.
“I did the cooking, the gardening, everything.
“But those aren’t my strengths and when you take on everything, you neglect the areas where you actually add value,” Sue said.
All in all, Sue knows she should’ve reached out for help sooner, and is now encouraging other small business to not take everything on, on your own.
“I’m facing closure,” she admits.
“I should have been reaching out to friends and mentors,” Sue said. “Instead, I kept saying to people things were okay, because I was working hard and customers were happy.”
Since reaching out to others and sharing her story, a social media storm has taken off, with industry companions all looking out for her in support of helping her stay afloat.
One post read, “Sue is one of those rare people you meet only occasionally in life — genuinely kind, generous, and deeply passionate about what she does.”
“Sue built Bellwether from the ground up while raising her beautiful daughter, creating not just a winery but something truly special for our region,” they wrote.
“Her wines are thoughtfully crafted in a way that celebrates the heritage, character and individuality of where we live,” they continued.
Images via Limestone coast and Vinified wine services
The support is for a very good reason, as the property combines a boutique winery with a spacious campground set among red gums and historic buildings. It offers visitors an immersive experience of the Limestone Coast’s natural beauty and layered history.
From Indigenous heritage to the region’s agricultural and winemaking legacy, Sue says the goal has always been to create something authentic and deeply connected to place. The rural location means guests don’t find the winery on accident, it’s intentional and when they arrive, the only thing on one’s mind is unwinding.
“It’s a really special wine region… personal, country, authentic.”
To help Sue out and keep Bellwether going, buy a bottle or two, of her great wine here or go visit her special cellar door.
