About Camino Wine Co

Jason Barrette has always had a long-held passion for wine and a curious sense of adventure. Whilst his career began as an accoladed soldier in the Australian Army, it was a tour visiting the famous battlefields of Europe that propelled Jason’s foray into winemaking. 

Exploring the wine regions of France and Italy, Jason fell in love with the picturesque vineyards and the rich European wine culture. The experience was the catalyst to retire from the military and pursue his dream of becoming a winemaker. Jason returned to Australia to study winemaking at The University of Adelaide and completed a Bachelor of Agriculture (Oenology) degree in 2005.

Upon completing his studies, Jason joined the prestigious Penfolds winemaking team at Magill Estate, working closely with Chief Winemaker and mentor Peter Gago to craft many of the Penfolds premium wines including Bin707 and Grange over twelve years as Penfolds Magill Estate Winemaker.  

Outside of Australian vintages, Jason has elevated his winemaking knowledge by travelling to the Northern Hemisphere, completing dual harvests as a “flying winemaker” and consultant for over two decades. He has consulted in Portugal, France, the USA, and Canada and has made all forms of wine style, from red, white, sparkling, and rosé through to fortified and ice wine. Over the years, Jason has been able to bring many different skills and winemaking techniques back to Australia. Much of his knowledge of grape varieties and wine styles has been learnt from some of the best winemaking regions and wine houses in the world.

Wherever he practices his craft, Jason forms a profound connection with the unique essence of each vineyard and the fruit it yields. This allows him to elevate the expression of the grape variety and the terroir to its fullest potential. Each winery becomes home to a pair of his work boots, preserving the memories and adventure. 

After more than 20 years of making wine across the globe, Jason’s wine adventure has culminated in the creation of Camino Wine Co. “Camino”, the Spanish word for journey, is a celebration of Jason’s wine adventures, his passion for the art form and his love for sharing stories and good wines.