Mother vine’s Young gun of the month

At Mother Vine, we love discovering the people behind the wines we pour. Young Gun of the Month is our way of shining a light on the young, emerging winemakers and small producers who are doing things their own way, taking risks, building their own labels and putting their stamp on the Australian wine industry.

Each month, we feature a young or up-and-coming winemaker whose wines we believe deserve a little more attention. It’s about getting to know the person behind the bottle - their story, their connection to the region and, most importantly, the wines they’re creating.

Celebrating the next generation of local winemakers

This Month: imogen mcmahon & ben jonas - Charlie Jessop

Meet winemaker Imogen McMahon and viticultrarist Ben Jonas, the duo behind Charlie Jessop, an exciting small-batch wine label from Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills.

With Ben leading the vineyard team at Shaw + Smith and Imogen working in winemaking at Ashton Hills and Wirra Wirra, the pair bring together a wealth of experience from some of the Adelaide Hills’ most respected names. Charlie Jessop is their opportunity to create something of their own, bringing their shared passion for great vineyards and thoughtful winemaking into just two wines.

Since 2023, they've focused exclusively on fruit from the Manyara Vineyard, working with just two varieties – Gamay and Chardonnay – both beautifully suited to the site.

For Imogen and Ben, great wine starts in the vineyard. With organic farming, careful vine management and hand-picked fruit, their approach is all about quality and allowing the vineyard, season and variety to shine through.

There's something exciting about seeing two young producers build on an established vineyard while creating something distinctly their own.

For us, that's exactly what Young Gun of the Month is about – celebrating emerging local winemakers and sharing the wines we believe deserve a little more attention.

Please enjoy some of their wines currently on pour at Mother Vine:

2025 Charlie Jessop Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills - $18/gls | $80/btl

2025 Charlie Jessop Gamay - $17/gls | $78/btl