Michael Bentley | General Manager

Michael Bentley grew up just outside the Yarra Valley in Victoria and began working in the local wine industry in 1992. He also worked in Gippsland and the Bellarine Peninsula before moving to Queensland to try his hand at other pursuits such as landscaping and real estate, before being lured back into wine with a job exporting to SE Asia, and ultimately arriving in the Hunter in 2013.

He was lured to Briar Ridge Vineyard in July 2021 by the opportunity to work with an excellent brand and great people and a desire to elevate the winery to a global level with a strong focus on elite wines. His expertise in distribution, sales and exports is a valuable asset to the winery, as is his vision, although he sees himself as a facilitator of the talents and achievements of the team around him.

Michael is a fan of AFL and cricket who dreamt of being a professional cricketer when he was young. His favourite meal is cheezels washed down with a schooner of Reschs although he won’t say no to a drop of Briar Hill Chardonnay because of its excellent balance of fruit, oak and acid and he does secretly love to cook. He is married to Eka and is dad to young Archie with whom he loves to walk their dogs and play in the park or on the beach.