Our Story
Every Winery Begins With a Dream. Ours Began With a Question.
"What separates a great wine from a good one?"
That simple question became the beginning of Cael’s Gate. Long before the vineyard was planted or the cellar door welcomed its first guests, it sparked a curiosity about what gives a wine character, complexity and a true sense of place.
It became a pursuit shaped by vineyards, vintages and experience — learning what to preserve, when to intervene and when to simply let the wine speak.
Today, that pursuit continues to guide every decision we make: balance, structure and clarity, with each wine expressing the variety, vineyard and season from which it came.
Curiosity Became a Calling
In 2016, Chris Chew made his first batch of wine in a Sydney garage.
What began as an experiment quickly became a passion. Vintage after vintage, he immersed himself in viticulture and winemaking, learning from growers, winemakers and vineyards across New South Wales in pursuit of a deeper understanding of how wine expresses place.The more he learned, the more one idea became clear: "Great wine begins long before it reaches the winery. It begins in the vineyard."
A Shared Vision
Cael's Gate has always been a partnership.
Chris and Reyna first fell in love with the Hunter Valley when they were married here in 2007. Over the years they returned often, drawn by the landscape, the people and the slower rhythm of the region. What began as weekend visits gradually evolved into a vision for something more permanent — a place where wine, hospitality and connection could come together. That vision would eventually become Cael's Gate.
Finding Our Place
In 2021, during the uncertainty of the COVID years, Chris and Reyna discovered the property that would become Cael's Gate.
Hidden amongst the bushland of Broke Fordwich, the property was unlike anything they had seen before. A striking timber-slab home surrounded by native landscape, overlooking vineyards framed by the dramatic backdrop of the Brokenback Range. The moment they arrived, they knew they had found something special. It wasn't a winery. It wasn't even a cellar door. But they could see what it might become. Over time, the property was transformed into the destination it is today — a boutique cellar door focused on thoughtful wines, genuine hospitality and memorable experiences.
The Samuel Vineyard
Some stories are deeply personal.
In 2022, Samuel Vineyard was planted in honour of Chris' late brother, Samuel. Situated on the stone-rich slopes of the estate and dedicated exclusively to Tempranillo, the vineyard represents family, remembrance and a long-term commitment to Broke Fordwich. More than a source of fruit, Samuel Vineyard embodies the belief that great wines are grown, not made. Today, the vineyard provides the foundation for our Samuel Tempranillo and Estate Rosé, with future releases continuing to tell the story of the site as it matures.
A Different Approach
While Samuel Vineyard remains at the heart of our story, Cael's Gate is not defined by a single vineyard or a single region.
We work with carefully selected vineyards across New South Wales, choosing each site for its ability to express varietal character and contribute to the Cael's Gate collection. Rather than forcing varieties to fit one location, we seek out vineyards where each grape can thrive and speak most clearly of its origin. The result is a portfolio built on quality first — wines united not by geography, but by philosophy.
Crafted by Intention
At the heart of every decision are three guiding principles: Balance, Structure and Clarity.
Balance: Every element of the wine should work in harmony, with no single component overwhelming the whole. Structure: Great wines are built with purpose and possess the framework to evolve over time. Clarity: Every wine should speak clearly of its vineyard, variety and season. These principles guide everything from vineyard selection and harvest decisions to fermentation, maturation and blending.
Looking Forward
Cael's Gate has never been about standing still.
- The vineyard continues to mature.
- New wines continue to emerge.
- New experiences continue to be created.
Every season presents another opportunity to learn, refine and improve.
Our story is still being written.
Samuel Vineyard is maturing. New sites are being explored. New wines are taking shape. And with every vintage, we continue to question, learn and refine.
What began with a batch of wine in a Sydney garage has become a vineyard, cellar door and winery in Broke Fordwich.
And we're only getting started.