What happens when a naval aviator from the Royal Australian Navy turns his sights to winemaking? You get wines that take off in the mouth with well-grounded prices. You get Cupcake Vineyard wines. Adam Richardson earned his pilot’s license before he learned to drive. But the winemaking bug bit him late. As a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy, Richardson spent eight years directing maritime helicopter search and rescue missions before changing careers. Towards the end of his military commitment, Lieutenant Richardson decided to enroll in one of Australia’s finest oenology and viticulture schools.

During his education, Richardson participated in a wide variety of winery jobs throughout Australia. In 1998, he moved to California for an assignment that led to extended stints at top wineries. His remarkable accomplishments brought him to the attention of Underdog Wine & Spirits, a multi-brand producer who was looking for the right winemaker to start a new concept.