Our Team
Be one of the first to discover ChaLou Wines, a leading authentic bud-to-bottle winery, and meet the passionate team behind it, Nadja, Steve, Helen, and Alex!
Nadja and Steve, the dynamic duo at the heart of ChaLou Wines, first crossed paths at CSU in 2008 while studying winemaking. After years of working and traveling overseas, they reunited in Orange in 2014 and have been crafting wines in the region ever since. They purchased their vineyard in July 2020 and have been diligently tending to their vines and creating exceptional wines. Their first harvest in 2021 showcased the fruits of their labor, and they can’t wait to share what they’ve accomplished.
Now with Helen and Alex joining the team, their combined expertise and passion promise to make ChaLou Wines an even more remarkable winery experience. With over 25 years of combined winemaking experience, Nadja and Steve—along with Helen and Alex—are set to impress.
Since establishing, ChaLou Wines has received several prestigious awards:
In 2019, Nadja was selected as part of the Future Leaders Group.
In November 2022, Nadja was honored as a Len Evans scholar.
In December 2022, Nadja was named Young Winemaker of the Year.
In August 2025, ChaLou Wines received the Halliday Dark Horse Winery award.
Nadja and Steve are eager to show you their vineyard and the exceptional wines they produce. Wine is their passion. It’s doing what they love, working with the land, exploring the expression of site and creating delicious wine!
– Nadja and Steve
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Nadja Wallington, Vigneron & Winemaker
Nadja fell in love with the wine industry culture while in high school, working holidays in the family vineyard and winery in Canowindra. Since leaving highschool Nadja has been making wine extensively throughout Australia as well as overseas in California, South Africa and France. In 2014 Nadja moved to Orange for a winemaking role; she saw the potential of the region to make world class wines and the opportunities it presented as an emerging region . In 2020 she purchased a vineyard with her husband Steve and together they launched ChaLou Wines in 2021.
Nadja has been the recipient of numerous industry accolades and Scholarships. Most recently she was named as the Young Winemaker of the year and has made the Top Young Guns of Wines in 2022 and 2023. Nadja is a Len Evans tutorial Scholar and alumni of the Wine Australia Future Leaders program.
Nadja is passionate about making expressive wines and using sustainable practices throughout their business. Her wines are thoughtful and detailed with a respect for site and connection to the land.
Nadja Wallington can be contacted at nadja@chalouwines.com.au.
Steve Mobbs, Vigneron & Winemaker
Steve grew up on a family vineyard on the North Coast of N.S.W. Bago Vineyards. After completing his bachelor degree in Wine Science at Wagga Wagga he spent 5 years travelling the world making wine in 5 different countries. In 2013 he joined the winemaking team at Cumulus Estate Wines in the Orange Region. In 2017 he started looking after Nadja’s family business Wallington Wines overseeing winemaking and viticulture. In 2020 Nadja and Steve purchased their very own property in Orange and started to develop their own brand ChaLou Wines. Steve has a hands on approach to all aspects of the business and is passionate about building a wholistic and sustainable wine brand.
Steve is a natural green thumb and enjoys working with the vineyard to harness its potential. Working our land using sustainable practices, challenging conventional techniques and finding innovative solutions to improve the quality of the fruit.
Steve Mobbs can be contacted at chalouwines@gmail.com.
Barnacle, General Manager
Barnacle is a very important member of our ChaLou team. Barnacle loves living and working at ChaLou wines. He is forever busy checking on the animals and keeping Steve and Nadja in line. Always the first up each morning, he cannot wait to get stuck into each days activities. He especially loves pruning, as there are lots of sticks getting thrown about.
Barnacle is always excited to welcome our guests and cannot wait to meet you when you come to visit to ChaLou Wines
Barnacle can be contacted at chalouwines@gmail.com.
Alex Rashford, Assistant Winemaker
Alex’s extensive experience in the food and beverage industry, particularly as a sommelier in Sydney curating wine lists, sparked his interest in winemaking. His natural curiosity and thirst for knowledge led him to ChaLou Wines, where he joined the team for the 2022 vintage to experience firsthand the winemaking process.
Alex was drawn to the diversity of tasks, hands-on work, and creative aspects of winemaking, which inspired him to enroll in winemaking studies and pursue a new career path. His time spent traveling and working overseas, coupled with his background in food and beverage and his innate creativity, brings a wealth of experience to ChaLou. He is passionate about showcasing the elegant expression of cool climate sites and is dedicated to the meticulous details required for crafting expressive and honest wines.
Helen Johnson, Communications Manager
Helen is a natural connector who thrives on building community. Her strong sense of community was fostered by her upbringing on a farm just outside of Boorowa.
With a career in communications, Helen has worked with organisations such as HelloFresh, Orange FOOD Week, Orange 360 as well as many small family businesses. Her journey has included living in Sydney and extensive travel overseas, before she was drawn to Orange by its renowned food and wine scene.
In May 2024, Helen joined the ChaLou Wines team. What began as a simple inquiry has evolved into a multifaceted role encompassing communications and marketing, as well as hands-on work in the vineyard and cellar door. Helen has a passion for food and wine, and loves to collaborate in these areas. This enthusiasm shines through in everything she does.
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