Team Two Hands

Michael Twelftree - proprietor/managing director

Michael came to the wine industry from a construction background, having spent years attending wine tastings and collecting the wines of the world. In 1998, he established his own Australian wine export company and after three successful years of selling other people's wine, he and business partner Richard Mintz decided to start their own operation.

From day one, Michael's role has been multifaceted. He is involved in the day to day running of the business, with a flair for marketing activity and creativity, injecting many fresh ideas and is constantly nutting out new ways to keep the brand fresh. He is eagerly involved in many aspects of production including vineyards, growers and winemaking. Michael's love for wine is well known and he spends many weeks a year travelling and tasting the greatest wines from the most revered wine regions of the globe.

phil kightley - general manager

After moving to Sydney from the UK in 2003, Phil came to Adelaide in late 2004 and immediately joined up with the Two Hands team in a finance role. With no prior experience of the wine industry, he quickly built a solid understanding of the challenges of operating a successful small company, from financial and inventory management to bottling, production and supporting overseas distributors - though, thankfully, all winemaking decisions are left to the experts!

Phil began his career as a Chartered Accountant in London before deciding to seek the warmer climes of Australia. Having experienced the benefits of several extended sojourns to the Mediterranean in his younger days, he soon settled into the lifestyle down under, taking up Australian citizenship at the first opportunity. He holds a degree in French and Italian from the University of Exeter and is currently trying to master the Chinese language part-time at the University of Adelaide.  

Matthew Wenk - Winemaker  

On graduating from Roseworthy with a degree in Oenology and honours in yeast microbiology, Matt worked as an assistant winemaker at Nepenthe Vineyards in the Adelaide Hills with intermittent vintages in the Hunter Valley, Languedoc and Sonoma Valley. Over time, Matt became winemaker and production manager working with senior winemaker Peter Leske. In addition to this, Matt worked closely with contract clients and their wines, such as Tim Knappstein of Lenswood Vineyards. After five years in the Adelaide Hills, Matt was offered the position of Head Winemaker with Two Hands Wines in 2002. Later that year he was a recipient of the Shaw and Smith/Len Evans Tutorial Scholarship and has recently completed a winemaking study tour of France, Italy and Spain. 

Fionna Davies - Production Manager

Having grown up in the middle of Victorian National Parks, Fionna's love for the environment followed through to her studies with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and a Master of Environmental Studies. After moving to Adelaide in 1995, she worked in various jobs in admin, and getting experience with Quality and Environmental Management Systems. An opportunity arose while enjoying a glass or three of Barossa wine at a Christmas BBQ which instigated a move to the Barossa. Since then, Fionna has worked for Henschke Wines as a Quality Systems Manager and Viticultural Assistant involved with HACCP, Organic, Environmental, BRC and ISO systems. This followed onto contract packaging in Quality and Technical Management with Premium Wine Bottlers and Production Scheduling and Management at Grant Burge Wines before joining Two Hands Wines in early 2011. In her spare time, Fionna can be found planting up her half acre garden with a glass of wine in hand. 

GRAHAM CATTO - MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT

Shannon Kruschel - Cellar Door Manager

 After many years in the television industry, Shannon looked for a change in career path and travelled Australia for two years with his wife-to-be. His first introduction to wine was in the cellar, working for Hardy's in the Riverland, and then with Houghton's in WA. After moving back to SA, he took up a position with Hardy's Reynella in the sparkling cellar, then moved to the Barossa in late 2006 working for Peter Lehmann. After eight vintages in the cellar, Shannon saw the opportunity to gain experience in wine marketing and joined Ross Estate, a small family owned winery. This was a fantastic stepping stone into his current role at Two Hands Wines.

PAUL GASTER - CELLAR DOOR SUPERVISOR

Coming from a banking background in the UK, Paul escaped to Australia in 2006. After a year travelling around the country in a 30 year old campervan searching for the perfect location to settle, he arrived in the Barossa just in time for the 2007 Vintage. Paul started his career in the wine industry at Richmond Grove Wines in Tanunda. For three months he worked as a cellar hand during the vintage period, learning the winemaking process from the bottom up. At this time Paul developed his love for Shiraz and the Barossa Region. For five years Paul ran the Richmond Grove Cellar Door before joining Two Hands in April 2012. Paul has immersed himself in the local wine culture including being the Chair of the Barossa Cellar Circle committee, a group dedicated to developing the knowledge and service quality of the Cellar Door staff of the Barossa.

ebony christian - CELLAR DOOR assistant

After completing her degree in Visual Communication (Graphic Design) Ebony decided to travel to Europe for five months, only to return a year and a half down the track. Working in hospitality in her home town of Port Lincoln and while abroad in Ireland, Ebony has always enjoyed interaction with people. This, along with her love for a good vino, has brought Ebony to become a member of the Two Hands team. Studying Marketing, Ebony is looking forward to bringing together marketing, design and wine.

MICHELLE PETERSON - FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Michelle joined the Two Hands team in 2013, and brings a strong administration background gained predominantly from the legal industry over several years. Michelle will be the friendly voice to help you with accounts queries in our office at Marananga. Whilst she openly admits she’s on a steep learning curve in the wine industry, Michelle hopes to be somewhat conversant in the not too distant future. A Shiraz enthusiast, we think she’ll be right at home here. Away from work, Michelle is kept very busy with her ‘other’ job at home, with her husband and family.  Her passion is volunteering within the church and local community. 

Danielle Flower - Sales & Marketing Coordinator

Whilst living in Canada, Danielle stumbled upon the wine industry after being appointed Office Manager with an international importing agency in Vancouver. The career change from legal administration was more than welcomed and has been a great introduction to the wine industry. After enduring 3 years of Canada's chilly winters, Danielle decided to move back to Australia and has since enjoyed her transition to Adelaide. She is excited to be part of Two Hands and the Sales & Marketing team.  

Ben Perkins - Assistant winemaker

Ben is a local boy to the Barossa Valley and, not surprisingly, he developed a strong interest in wine. He joined Two Hands in 2007 after he finished his studies. Ben has also worked 2 vintages overseas: 1 in Niagara, Canada and the other with Outpost, Napa Valley where the Two Hands USA wines are made. Outside of work he enjoys cricket, football, travelling and, as he admits, spending way too much money on wine.

Nathan Rees - Cellar Hand

Nathan has lived in many parts of Australia and gained experience working in numerous bottle shops and cocktail bars, before joining Two Hands in 2007 as a Cellar Door Assistant. In 2008 he decided to get his hands dirty working vintage which led to a full time position as Cellar Hand. He has recently started studying Levels 1 to 4 in Cellar Operations at TAFE, to learn even more about the wine industry.

AMANDA WONG - CELLAR HAND

Amanda moved to Adelaide from Queensland at the end of 2009.  Having been an instrumental music teacher with Education Queensland previously, she decided it was time for a change. Her first vintage was in 2010 at Mollydooker Wines and absolutely fell in love with winemaking…so much so, she is currently studying a Bachelor of Wine Science externally through Charles Sturt University. Amanda is really enjoying working in the cellar at Two Hands Wines.  In her spare time she plays in pit orchestras for amateur musical theatre companies.

MICHAEL abdelmalek - CELLAR HAND

Since graduating with an electrical and electronic degree in the mid 90's at Uni SA in Whyalla, Michael has been exposed to a wide range of jobs covering maintenance, project and contract engineering. His move to the Barossa in 2000 introduced him to the joys of wine and lead to a distiIlation career with Tarac Technologies for ten years. Michael completed his first vintage in 2013 and is looking forward to developing his knowledge of wine and all aspects of the winery. Outside of work, Michael supports his wife and three boys, is a member of Angaston CFS (Country Fire Service) and is also an active member of the Barossa Valley Historical Vehicle Club.  

Trent Heneker - Vineyard Manager/Grounds Curator

Trent brings over 12 years of viticultural knowledge and experience to his management role at Two Hands Wines. Now working predominantly in the Barossa Valley, he has also enjoyed lengthy stints in the Adelaide Hills and Langhorne Creek growing regions. Having previously owned and operated a landscaping/gardening business in Adelaide, Trent (when not busy in the vineyard) can be found using both 'green thumbs' creating and manicuring the beautiful gardens surrounding the Cellar Door. In his spare time, Trent enjoys the life of a part-time self proclaimed 'rock star', playing in a couple of bands. 

Peter Molloy - Warehouse MANAGER

After 15 years as a sound engineer, Peter gave up his career and love for travel to settle down and start a family. He has since been in the distribution trade and for the past 25 years, has achieved an impressive background in designing and project managing the relocations of warehouses. A resident of Nuriootpa, Peter is married with 10 grandchildren.