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Our Team

The Flying Fish Cove winemaking team have over 45 years of experience in managing wine production and over the last 15 years have achieved multiple awards for Client Wines and the Flying Fish Cove Brand.

Every employee is dedicated to our goal of following client specifications and using the best cellar practices to produce the highest quality wine possible. Every job in the winery is created by a winemaker according to client instructions and documented by signed cellar notes which are recorded on our live networked production program. 

    Flying Fish Cove Winery - Damon Eastaugh

    Damon Eastaugh

    Damon initially studied science, with a double major in chemistry then law and was admitted to the bar in New South Wales. After a stint with a law firm in Sydney, he returned to the South West of WA in 1991.

    Damon was drawn to the south west through his family that planted a vineyard in Yallingup in the mid 1980’s. A small winery was established on site in the 1990’s where he learned to make wine through a local mentor.

    Through grape growing and winemaking at the family owned winery he decided to pursue a career in the wine industry.

    As a founding member, Damon has worked with Flying Fish Cove Winery for the last twenty years and is one of the founding members of the Wildberry vineyard which he continues to oversee. 

    • Bachelor of Science and Laws from University of Western Australia
    • Involved in formation of Flying Fish Cove and completed 20 vintages at the winery
    • Family ownership in Flying Fish Cove
    • Experience gained from working in small private winery to contract work at larger commercial facilities and overseas work in US
    • Established and manages food safety system
    • Excellent reporting skills

    Winemaking Services Flying Fish Cove - Simon Ding

    Simon Ding

    Simon Ding had a circuitous journey before falling prey to the lure of wine. He finished an apprenticeship in metalwork in 1993. Then travelled through Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia where he fell in love with wine.

    On returning to Australia, he completed a Bachelor of Wine Science while working as a cellar hand at Fermoy Estate in Margaret River.

    While at Fermoy he undertook a vintage at Villa Trasqua in the Castellina in Chianti appellation of Tuscany. Great wine and food was the order of the day.

    Since completing his degree, Simon has worked in the Margaret River Region as a Winemaker for several award winning wineries.

    Simon joined the Flying Fish Cove team in 2008. He considers himself an extremely lucky person and has managed to snare a job with a team of great people who all share a common goal - making great wines and enjoying the experience to do so.

    • Bachelor of Wine Science from Charles Sturt University
    • Experienced gained from small to large winery employment and contract work with overseas vintage completed in Italy
    • Highly organised and effective dedicated to quality with excellent organoleptic skills

    Will Nelson 

    Will comes to Flying Fish with 15 vintages and over 11 years experience in cellars around the world.

    Before starting to work in wine Will was a restauranteur, sommelier and worked in the sale and marketing of wine. On a stint in Sydney whilst travelling the world setting up bars for a global chain, Will fell in love with the country and a life partner too!

    His experience extends across the northern Rhone (Michel Chapoutier), multiple vintages in Provence, the Languedoc-Roussillon (Domaine Gauby), Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley, Margaret River (Juniper Estate), New Zealand and South Africa (Boukenhoutsklooof).

    Will believes that wine is made in the vineyard and is a big fan of organic viticulture and gets a kick out of making quality wines with a ‘sense of place’ by traditional vinification methods.

    Kerry Bennett Flying Fish Cove Winery

    Kerry Bennett

    An expat from the UK, Kerry relocated to Perth as a child. She studied fine arts and education at Curtin University before travelling around Europe.

    Kerry worked for a large mining company in Perth and has a background in Purchasing, Logistics, Accounts and Human Resources.

    The South West region was a favourite holiday destination for her family. She relocated here in 2002 with her three children, taking advantage of the world-class wines, forests and beaches.

    Kerry has been part of the Flying Fish Cove family for over 10 years. She enjoys working in an industry that the South West is so famous for and within a company that is producing a world-class product!

    Jenny Quinlan

    Having established a respected career working in advertising in Sydney, overseas and Perth, Jenny and her husband Tim relocated to the Margaret River for a ‘lifestyle’ change in 1995.

    Her experience spans across hospitality, marketing and office management working for Cape Lodge, Margaret River Online and Halsall & Associates.

    Jenny joined the Flying Fish Cove team in May 2022 and oversees accounts and assists with daily administration.

    Waveney Eastaugh

    Waveney brings her expertise and passion for wine to the Flying Fish sales team, focusing on trade and in-store tastings. It's a family affair working alongside her winemaker husband Damon.

    Work with us

    Looking for job opportunities at Flying Fish Cove? Our contract distillery and winery is located in the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River in Western Australia. Visit our employment page current opportunities.

      Australian Certified Organic

      We are committed to the goal of having a minimal impact on the environment and ecology of our region. Since 2019 our winemaking facility has been certified organic with ACO accreditation for contract processing.

      behind the scenes

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