Between Five Bells is a creative, collaborative project born from the shared passion of three close friends: Ray Nadeson, the iconic winemaker behind the celebrated Lethbridge Wines, wine merchant David Fesq, and leading Sydney sommelier Josh Dunne. Established with a debut vintage in 2009, this artisanal producer focuses entirely on ultimate drinkability, drawing deep winemaking inspiration from classic Californian field blends and the historic vineyards of the Southern Rhône Valley. Based in the cool-climate region of Geelong in Victoria, Australia, the team works with small, low-yielding vineyard sites defined by ancient limestone and ironstone soils, ensuring the hand-harvested fruit retains a brilliant natural freshness.
The name of the project is a sophisticated nod to Australian literature, taking inspiration from Kenneth Slessor's famous poem, Five Bells, which explores the spirit and memory of Sydney Harbour. This artistic philosophy directly shapes how the team crafts each bottle, treating wine as a living reflection of a specific time and place. A major talking point for everyday drinkers is the estate's spectacular and highly unconventional bottle labels. Some wines feature beautifully detailed, colourful infographics that illustrate the entire winemaking process, while other expressions carry flavour profiles split across several different labels. It is a visually stunning and highly conversational collection that brings an exciting touch of artistry to the modern dinner table.
The collection deliberately steps away from single-variety wines to champion the ancient art of field blending, combining grapes like Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Fiano to create completely unique styles. By co-fermenting different varieties together using wild yeasts and minimal intervention, the winemaking team produces incredibly vibrant, food-friendly bottles that emphasize bright fruit character over heavy oak or high alcohol. The red blends are beautifully light-to-medium-bodied, packed with juicy red berries, cracked pepper, and soft tannins, while the white and amber styles offer a delightful mix of stone fruits, wild herbs, and a refreshing mineral texture. Because this is a strictly small-scale, artisanal operation, production quantities remain minuscule, making each bottle a highly sought-after find for those seeking authentic Australian innovation.