Gentle Folk’s Gareth Belton on seaweed, science, and sauvignon blanc

Gareth Belton from Gentle Folk joins the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast to talk about his unlikely path from marine botany and seaweed fieldwork to farming some of the Adelaide Hills’ most compelling sites. We dig into how Gareth’s scientific mindset influences decisions in the vineyard and winery, why site (aspect, altitude, soil) matters so much in the Adelaide Hills, and how Gentle Folk’s style has evolved from early, freewheeling releases into refined, terroir-driven wines. You’ll also hear the story behind the Gentle Folk name, the reality of organic farming on steep slopes, the economics of growing grapes versus buying fruit, and why Gareth thinks sauvignon blanc is one of the most misunderstood varieties in Australia. The Halliday Wine Companion Podcast is hosted by Halliday editor Anna Webster. Gentle Folk Wines Gentle Folk on Instagram Halliday Wine Companion Halliday Wine Companion on Instagram Anna Webster on Instagram Buy the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion   In this episode 00:00 Intro00:15 From marine biology to a PhD in seaweed02:35 The wine bug and Adelaide as a turning point05:00 Natural wine, accessibility, and learning from peers06:51 Making wedding wine and the first “serious” vintage09:52 Why it’s called Gentle Folk12:00 Farming grapes, leasing vineyards, and going organic16:56 Scientific thinking in wine: test everything19:06 Adelaide Hills site differences: aspect, altitude, soil23:23 Farming philosophy, organic practice, and “pretty vineyards”26:24 Evolution of style and the role of single-vineyard wines34:32 Key influences and the wines Gareth loves to drink40:22 Sauvignon blanc, texture, and changing attitudes43:48 Father’s Milk: the real story and the long lunches54:13 What’s next: more sangiovese and Tuscany harvest dreams56:27 Current releases and final thoughts   Gareth Belton, Gentle Folk, Adelaide Hills, Basket Range, Piccadilly Valley, chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, sangiovese, organic viticulture, single vineyard wine, Halliday Wine Companion, Australian wine. #HallidayWineCompanion #GentleFolk #AdelaideHills #AustralianWine #Chardonnay #PinotNoir #SauvignonBlancSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.