About Us
Dear Zahra is a small family-owned wine label currently based in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, South Australia. We’re Glynn and Kamillah Thoman, and our journey began in 2022 with just two barrels of wine. The name “Dear Zahra” is special to us, as our daughter, Zahra, was born the same year we started this passion project.
Our winemaking philosophy is based on a deep respect for the land and a commitment to organic and sustainable practices. We work with growers who share these values, focusing on creating wines that reflect the cool-climate terroir of the Adelaide Hills. Specializing in Pinot Noir, we produce small batches, hand-picking each grape and allowing natural fermentation with minimal intervention. We only add a small amount of sulfur before bottling to preserve the wine’s integrity.
We’re grateful for the mentorship of Erinn Klein, the owner and winemaker at Ngeringa Winery, where we continue to make our wines. Looking ahead, we’re excited to explore other cool-climate regions, especially in Victoria, and see where our journey takes us.
At Dear Zahra, our goal is to create wines that reflect the elegance of Burgundy while embracing the distinctiveness of the New World. Each bottle is crafted with care, and we hope you can taste that passion in every sip.
A little more on Glynn’s winemaking journey:
My journey to winemaking was far from traditional. Although I grew up surrounded by vineyards in South Australia, it wasn’t until later in life that I truly discovered my passion for wine. After over a decade working as a marine engineer, my growing love for Pinot Noir pushed me to seek out inspiring winemakers, asking a mountain of questions, before finally deciding that pursuing winemaking myself was the only way to fully satisfy my curiosities.
I left my career at sea and began volunteering at wineries focused on cool-climate wines. In 2021, I had the opportunity to work with Erinn Klein at Ngeringa Winery, where I quickly took on a more active role, managing the vineyard team and later working in the winery. My experiences in renowned wine regions, including Western Australia, South Australia, and Burgundy, France, have shaped my approach to winemaking and deepened my understanding of terroir and climate's role in creating great wines.
Today, I focus on crafting wines that express the true character of the land, with an emphasis on quality, sustainability, and capturing the unique spirit of each place. Every bottle of Dear Zahra wine reflects my commitment to craftsmanship and the passion I pour into every step of the winemaking process.
