Michael Potts

Coming Up

Wine work is often learned in the places where theory meets repetition, and Michael Potts came up through that kind of practical training. He trained at Strathalbyn High School and Roseworthy College, then moved into the cellar in 1977 as a cellar-hand at Bleasdale Vineyards in Langhorne Creek (1977). That first post put him directly into the daily work of the winery, where pace, timing, and familiarity with the site matter. He later worked as an employee at Mildara in Merbein, adding another layer of trade experience before returning to Bleasdale Vineyards, where he is now winemaker.

Where They Are Now

At Bleasdale Vineyards, the work sits on continuity as much as output. Michael’s current role as winemaker draws on years spent around the practical side of the industry, from cellar-hand duties to time at Mildara in Merbein. That kind of background matters in a winery: it builds a working memory of process, and it keeps the job tied to the realities of the cellar rather than the language around it.

Career - winemaker — Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek - cellar-hand — Bleasdale Vineyards, Langhorne Creek (1977) - employee — Mildara, Merbein Education: Strathalbyn High School; Roseworthy College

Signature

Michael’s signature wines include Frank Potts Dry Red, Generations Shiraz, Broad Side Shiraz Cabernet, and Bremerview Shiraz. The range points to a house style carried across different labels, with the emphasis on familiarity, structure, and the kind of consistency that comes from long service in one region and one winery. In that sense, the wines reflect the maker as much as the estate: a body of work shaped by repetition, attention, and time at the bench and in the cellar.

In Their Words That memory tells you a lot about a winery as a working site: carton stacks, open access, family presence, and the kind of loose boundaries that shape early familiarity with the trade. It also shows how a place can move from mischief to responsibility without losing its domestic character. For Michael Potts, the line from childhood interference to later winery work runs straight through Bleasdale Vineyards, where the same space eventually became the site of his profession.

FAQ What is Michael Potts's current role? As of 2026, Michael Potts is Winemaker. Where did Michael Potts train or study? Michael Potts trained at Strathalbyn High School and Roseworthy College.