“And winemaking philosophy really is that the good wines are made in the vineyard. So if your grapes are healthy and ripened to the right state, then the winemaking process becomes quite simple. You only really need to interfere when your grapes aren't that good. We are blessed to be in Margaret River, which climatically, it's a winemaker's dream.”
We’re in great company with Lara and Jamie McCall, the husband and wife duo behind Burnside Organic Farm, who over the past 25 years along with their three sons, have created and curated a luxury farm stay and winery in the Margaret River Region of Australia, where guests can enjoy genuine “agritourism,” organic wine, friendly farm animals and immersive nature experiences.
While the McCall’s pursued numerous career paths before coming across their land, they made an early decision to start and stay organic as they watched their young sons play in the same dirt that would grow their food. Over the following years, they naively, passionately and patiently worked with nature as a teacher to nurture their farm into the bountiful and self-sustaining ecosystem that it is today.
In this episode, Lara and Jamie invite our listeners and their guests alike - to hear their story, step onto their land, and taste their harvest - inspiring others to produce their own food, sharing their ideas about resilience for future sustainable living, encouraging all to take these memories and create their own stories.
Top Takeaways
[1:40] Lara & Jamie McCall’s lives took many tangents before settling down on their farm. From sailing ships to being a journalist for the local newspaper, from being a stockbroker to running a family business making furniture, there are many twists and turns to this tale.
[11:40] The early days raising a young family of 3 boys on a farm meant many hands made lighter but sometimes messier work. Today, their sons have returned with specific passions and areas of expertise to continue to build upon the family business.
[14:30] Jamie shares how the Margaret River region of Western Australia, with its mild Mediterranean like climate, lends to a very naturally immersive architectural style using timber and rammed earth.
[18:10] There’s so much to see, smell and savor as you roam the farm finding vineyards, an avocado orchard, a caper plantation, beehives, a market garden, and numerous farm animals that play their role in tending to the land.
[22:00] The decision to start and always stay organic was a personal one, which came with a great need for further education and support from the small but collaborative organic farming community.
[32:40] Burnside Organic Farm is the perfect starting point on the Organic & Biodynamic Wine Trail where guests can take a taste of the classics in Cabernet and Chardonnay, and alternatives in Zinfandel and Vermentino.
Notable Mentions
Margaret River Farmers’ Market
Visit For Yourself
Book A Stay: Burnside Organic Farm Website
