Meet the Team Behind MMAD Vineyard: Shaw, Smith, Wadewitz & LeMire

Four of Australia’s top wine professionals walk into Blewitt Springs. The result? MMAD Vineyard—a boutique project that’s all about old vines, exceptional terroir, and seriously good wine.

MMAD isn’t just a name. It’s an acronym made from the first initials of its four founders: Martin Shaw, Michael Hill Smith MW, Adam Wadewitz, and David LeMire MW. And if you know anything about Australian wine, you’ll know that’s a dream team.

The Origins

Michael and Martin are cousins and co-founders of the acclaimed Shaw + Smith winery in the Adelaide Hills, which they launched back in 1989. Their mission? Elegant, cool-climate wines that reflect site and season.

Adam Wadewitz (Chief Winemaker) and David LeMire (Head of Sales & Marketing) have since joined forces with the duo to lead Shaw + Smith into its next era—introducing single vineyard wines from Balhannah and Lenswood and expanding their portfolio to include Tolpuddle Vineyard in Tasmania.

Why MMAD?

After years of producing benchmark wines in the Adelaide Hills and Tasmania, the four came together to focus on one of South Australia’s most treasured regions—Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale. Their shared vision? To honour the incredible old vines of Grenache, Shiraz, and Chenin Blanc on the site and let the vineyard speak for itself.

All four bring deep experience, global perspective, and a hands-off winemaking philosophy. With MMAD, they’ve created something intimate, site-driven, and full of potential.

What They’ve Built

• Martin Shaw: A trained oenologist with global winemaking experience, co-founder of Shaw + Smith.
• Michael Hill Smith MW: Australia’s first Master of Wine, respected judge, and consultant with decades in the trade.
• Adam Wadewitz: Halliday Winemaker of the Year finalist, known for his precision and site expression.
• David LeMire MW: One of Australia’s few Master of Wine professionals with a focus on sales, education and global markets.

The Wines

MMAD Grenache 2023 and MMAD Shiraz 2023 reflect their combined ethos: minimal intervention, maximum site expression, and quality above all else.

You’ll find both available now at Wine Simple.

FAQs

What does MMAD stand for?

MMAD is an acronym from the first initials of the four founders: Martin Shaw, Michael Hill Smith MW, Adam Wadewitz, and David LeMire MW.

What other wineries have the MMAD team worked on?

They are also behind Shaw + Smith in the Adelaide Hills and Tolpuddle Vineyard in Tasmania—both considered benchmark Australian producers.

Where can I buy MMAD wines?

At Wine Simple, we stock the MMAD Grenache and Shiraz—delivered Australia-wide.