Eastern Peake and LATTA Vino

Eastern Peake and Latta Vino capture the two sides of Owen Latta’s winemaking world. A second-generation winemaker from Coghills Creek near Ballarat, Owen grew up among the vines of Eastern Peake, planted by his family in the early 1980s. Plenty of winemakers from wine families start young, but few can claim to have overseen an entire vintage before their 16th birthday. Owen earned this rare distinction when an unexpected workplace accident at the family winery thrust him into the hot seat, a challenge he met with unstoppable energy.

Today, he produces an elegant range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay under the Eastern Peake label while channelling his creative drive into Latta Vino, a small-batch négociant project exploring alternative varieties from lesser-known subregions of Western Victoria. His approach is grounded in respect for terroir and minimal intervention, underpinned by a deep understanding of lo-fi techniques to craft wines with purity, vitality and poise, including bottlings with no Sulphur added. He explains:

“I like the gentle approach in the cellar that brings the vineyard into focus more so than the stamp of winemaking.” 

In 2025, Owen was named Young Gun of Wine, by an award “recognising creative mavericks and uncompromising talent”. A balance of heritage and innovation has cemented Owen Latta as one of Australia’s most thoughtful and daring winemakers, a force in the country’s cool-climate and avant-garde wine scene. The judges remarked:

“With his ability to honour family tradition with Eastern Peake, and at the same time push the envelope with his daring Latta Vino, Latta is a rare talent indeed – and a worthy winner of the 19th annual Young Gun of Wine trophy.”