OUR STORY
Down to Earth is a Margaret River based company with over 19 years experience in the viticulture, agriculture, forestry & construction industries. Established in 1998, our company began by providing viticultural management and contract labour hire services to clients throughout Western Australia in the Margaret River, Swan Valley, Harvey, Geographe, and Frankland wine regions. Over the years our business has expanded into agriculture, forestry and resource service industries across Australia.
Down to Earth’s management team has years of experience partnering with both large and small companies to ensure comprehensive service delivery that are not only productive, but cost effective. We are passionately committed to provide a hands-on approach and management style to our clients that is responsive, innovative and return focused. Our team can meet and fulfill all requirements, understanding each business has its own specific requirements and goals. Our aim is to professionally supply labour hire and lateral services to achieve the best results.
Based in Margaret River, with over 20 permanent staff comprising a team of highly skilled employees, a fleet of modern equipment & machinery and access to leading production methods, Down to Earth’s experienced team can provide a full range of management services across the industries. For more information, see Our Services page.
We are personally invested in the reputation of our company and endeavor to exceed our clients’ expectations by understanding their requirements and providing the highest level of expertise and credibility to all the services we offer.
MEET OUR TEAM
Raised in Rolleystone on his grandparents orchard & vineyard, Carl started as a young child working with his family on orchards. To this day he instills his core family business values with his wife Carla, who together manage Down to Earth with a background and many years of experience in areas of vineyards & horticulture management and running successful small businesses.
After owning his small business in Perth, Carl moved his family to Margaret River in the late 1990s and began working in the vineyard industry for a local company. During that period, Carl formed personable professional relationships with fellow senior staff and with his genuine attitude & natural entrepreneurial vision took a chance with a small business loan and established Down to Earth in 1998. With his work ethic and reliability, Carl understood the need for quality services during the industry boom. Still to this day, Carl enjoys identifying the opportunity to expand his business into areas of agriculture and resources.
With generations of farming and agricultural industry background, James Crespin (Jim) was subconsciously drawn into the business of farming. After completing high school at Scotch College in Perth, Jim moved directly to Margaret River to pursue his interest in the viticulture / winemaking industry. Whilst gaining experience in this field he attended Muresk Agricultural College and then went on to study Viticulture at Curtin University.
Jim is a founding member of the DTE team and has been involved in all operations from the conception of our business. From experience across a diverse range of projects, Jim holds a vast array of skills and knowledge that compliment the DTE leadership team.
Jim thrives on delivering high levels of customer satisfaction through his high expectations and determination to succeed across all fields within the DTE scope.
Aaron has spent his childhood and working life in Agriculture, growing up on a Wheat and Sheep farm in the Great Southern of WA. After schooling in Perth he attended Curtin University of Technology and studied a Bachelor of Horticultural Business. In 1999 he again returned to the Great Southern to this time to begin work in the wine industry for Fergrove Vineyards. Here Aaron helped establish the existing 2000 tonne winery and was involved in the first vintage there.
He then moved to Margaret River and joined the newly ASX listed Xanadu Wines as part of the viticultural team and helped developed 120 hectares of new vineyards. In 2004 Aaron was appointed vineyard manger of the 96 hectare Margaret River vineyard and was responsible for the production and management of the estate of vineyard. Over the next 5 years Aaron was instrumental with the transitioning and re focus of the listed company back to an award wining family owned winery it is today.
In 2009 Aaron joined Down to Earth as vineyard manager, overseeing production of many of the company managed vineyards bringing with him leadership and an abundance of viticultural and winemaking knowledge. Aaron has developed and honed his expertise over the last 16 years and has an excellent understanding of the wine industry and the key drivers that both clients and customers require for successful outcomes. His abilities are not limited to the technical aspects of viticulture and winemaking. He also is well skilled in business management, planning and development of new and ongoing projects not just limited to viticulture and enjoys the challenges and opportunities this part of the business provides.
Paul joined the Down to Earth team in 2019 as consultant winemaker and now leads the winemaking team in producing the Borrello Vineyards range of wines. He started his working life as an apprentice chef where he was introduced to the world off wine. After finishing his apprenticeship Paul realized that wine not food was his real passion. After travelling the world and becoming more passionate about the production of wine he moved to Margaret River in the early 1990’s. After several season in the vineyard Paul decided winemaking was his chosen pathway. Paul studied his Bachelor of Wine Science degree whilst working for several small producers in Margaret River where he first worked with Down to Earths Operations Manager Jim Crespin. In 1998 he was approached to join Leeuwin Estate. Paul spent 18 years at Leeuwin and the last 11 years as Senior Winemaker. During his time as Senior winemaker his wines received local, domestic, and international acclaim, with two of his wines achieving a place in Wine Spectators top 100 International Wines of the Year awards.
After stepping down from his role at Leeuwin Estate he joined Down to Earth to concentrate on their portfolio Borrello vineyard wines.
WHERE WE WORK
Our Achievements:
- August 2016 – Partnered with Tropical Forestry Service on the completion of land development and irrigation to plant 250,000 sandalwood trees. Click here to read the article
- December 2015 – Completed over 400 ha of olive plantation establishment through to production in Ennabea, Western Australia.
Down to Earth Agribusiness is a proud member of:
- Certified fresh produce and grape grower under Freshcare on farm national assurance program
- Western Australia & Margaret River Wine Regions
- Wine Australia
- Wine & Grape Growers Association
Down to Earth remains deeply involved in local community and supports local organisations and charitable events:
- Football Margaret River Soccer Club
- River Angels Cancer Support Group
- Margaret River Farmers Markets
- Margaret River Roller derby
- Do you see what I see Association
- W.A. Calabrese Association
- PMH Gala Ball
- Frankland River Golf Classic
- Teen Challenge International
- MS Society
- Telethon
- World Vision Child Sponsorship Program