Although Zhuonan “Jack” Zhang started Cellar Project in 2014 in Australia with the idea of pure experimentation and no real plans for consistent output, his joyful brand has come to be known for quite serious ‘unserious’ wines. Originally from the South of China, Jack developed a passion for wine at a young age because of his wine-loving parents; he went to University in Adelaide for winemaking and quickly started his own experimental batches even while at work for acclaimed vineyards in the area. His biggest influence became the Georgian wine he was exposed to during his travels, and so he started trying to create his own Ningxia-grounded versions of these tight, restrained, savory orange wines that connect drinkers to the landscape. He likes to double down and “push drinkers towards the ‘vinosity’ of a wine”. Cellar Project’s Chinese name alludes to “urgently living for pleasure” and his stated goal reflects this: to make easy-drinking, light hearted, enjoyable, slightly rebellious wines. His labels are similarly ecstatic, attempting to attract new drinkers without pretention. But his wines are equal parts light-hearted and serious-minded, skillfully made to allow drinkers to open multiple bottles today or put away for a textural surprise tomorrow.