If you’ve visited the winery during harvest, scrolled through our latest event posters, or enjoyed a live band at one of our ticketed shows, you’ve experienced the work of Iain Downie. While he’s a familiar face in our Reels, Iain’s role at The Shiraz Republic is a unique blend of cellar-floor grit and creative precision.
Iain is a vital part of the "crush-to-creative" pipeline here at Cornella. From managing the hands-on experience of our Rent-A-Row winemakers to ensuring our visual brand looks as good as the wine tastes, Iain is one of the multi-talented pillars of Shiraz Republic.
One of Iain’s primary passions is our Rent-A-Row program. For those who want to try their hand at crafting their own vintage, Iain is a guide through the journey from the vine to the bottle. Helping navigate the gap between the complex science of fermentation and the joy of making your own bottle of Shiraz, with a heap of fun and learning along the way.
When he’s not in his work boots, Iain is likely behind a screen or a mixing console. As our resident Graphic Designer, he’s the architect behind the new Shiraz Republic wine labels. While our Cornella Brewery cans are handled by another, Iain has focused his eye on elevating our wine's visual identity, ensuring the bottles reflect the premium quality of the Heathcote fruit inside.
And if the music sounds particularly crisp during one of our live sessions, you can possibly thank Iain for that, too. Occasionally stepping in to mix bands, he uses his technical ear to make sure the atmosphere at Shiraz Republic is just right.
You wear a lot of hats here—from the cellar to the design studio. Do you have a favorite side of the job?
"I love the balance. I've spent over 30 years at computers so being able to work in some physical work is good for body and mind. And I was winemaking at home anyway so it's a boon - I neglect my wine less which means I get more of it (less vinegar tho!). Freelance design ebbs and flows so having a mountain of winery tasks waiting keeps you moving and fresher of mind when you do need to design. I also play and record my own music at home so bringing some of those skills here has been fun too. Maybe I'm bored easily…but not around here!"
You’ve been the driving force behind the new wine labels. What was the inspiration there?
"We wanted to extend the language of revolution and independence that is prevalent across Shiraz Republic without wandering away from the fact that the product is, you know, wine and that wine labels have a design language themselves and the label needs to communicate with the consumer. But rather than rewrite the brief (haha) I'll simply say that I went down a 20th century revolutionary design rabbit hole and came up with strongly coloured geometrics and grit! Let's just say the text design is direct and clear - as are we at Shiraz Republic - the colours are bold - like the flavour within - and the cogs and wheels represent the physical work and respect of process, while the grit is the earth - where it all begins.”
You’re heavily involved in the Rent-A-Row program. What’s the most rewarding part of helping people make their own wine?
"It’s amazing when people realise their wine is going to taste good. I guess that comes from the mystique of winemaking in the broader community, but our Rent-a-Rowers love wine and their engagement is always high so the excitement ramps up at every stage and it’s lot of fun to be part of each journey. But it’s much more than that … many of the returning customers are family or social groups who treat the sessions like regular catchups with Brooke and I as guests. You get to looking forward to their returns. But there’s yet more (most rewarding parts….maybe?) … we have a lot of Italian families come up as a gift for a parent who used to make wine with their families when they were young but for whatever reasons that element of their culture has fallen away. The nostalgic delight from just seeing the same equipment they remember through to the occasional tears when they recall a long lost part of their lives is …. well, it’s pretty special."
We see you in the Reels quite a bit. Does the graphic designer in you ever want to jump behind the camera and take over the editing?
"No. But I do want to add animated titling and edit the soundtrack. Graphic Designers aren’t storytellers, we’re too superficial."
What’s your go-to way to wind down after a long day in the winery?
"Put a record on, open a glass of Sangiovese and cook. Or if it’s a really long day, warm up leftovers. And if it’s summer have a swim on the way home first…"
Whether he’s overseeing a ferment, tweaking a new label design, or balancing the levels for a live set, Iain is always happy to chat about the "Shiraz Republic way of life.
Want to learn more about making your own wine with Iain’s help? Check out our Rent-A-Row program HERE or come say hi to him at the cellar door!
