Sid Kidman started in the wine industry in Coonawarra in 1968 with a company called Terra Rossa Wines in which the Kidman family had a 30% interest. Sid worked with this company for several years and ended up being vineyard & winery manager and then company director. Sid Kidman planted the first vines on his historic family property, Limestone Ridge in the 1970′s and has been managing the vineyard ever since. Sid’s philosophy is to produce wines that require little alteration.  In the vineyard he manages the balance between natural acid and full fruit flavour. Sid is an active member of The Coonawarra Grape growers Association and is on the board for National Parks. Susie & Sid Kidman formed their company (The Ridge Wines) in 1984, opened their cellar door sales in Dec 84 and at the same time released their range of wines.  The Kidman Wines label was established in 1995 which was when the classic gum leaf label was designed that is still pertinent to the company today.

Susie Kidman started her professional career as a Nurse training in Adelaide. Today, Susie manages the farming enterprise that accompanies the viticultural and winemaking business. The farming aspect of Limestone Ridge comprises prime lamb production and vealers, cattle and cropping. Susie has been a member of the SA farmers federation livestock exceutive, SA meat residue coordinating committee, past chairman of the South East regional country arts trust board and a trustee of country arts SA. In her “free” time Susie is an avid gardener, is part of the open garden scheme and a tremendous cook!

George Kidman returned to help on the family property back in 2005 after a period of time in Adelaide and abroad. George is passionate about many things;  in particular, all things sport and producing quality prime lambs off the Limestone Ridge property. Since returning George co-manages the farming aspect of the enterprise with his mother Susie, but can also be seen regularly in whites at the Penola cricket oval where he can be seen captaining the A grade side to one or two victories! George’s sporting prowess has seen him associated with the SA hotshots hockey team, and more recently, the SA country outbacks cricket team where he has vice-captained the teams in Nuriootpa (2009), Albury (2010) and Bunbury (2011). George is an active board member of SA country cricket.

Catherine Cox-Kidman grew up in between the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley in Victoria and  developed her passion for viticulture whilst completing a Bachelor of Viticultural Sci (Hons). Catherine has worked in the Victorian wine regions of Mornington Peninsula, Beechworth and Sunraysia before moving to the South East of SA where she has been activly involved in research of the grapevine. Catherine has worked for the Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of SA as the Rootstock project manager and is currently completing her PhD with the University of Adelaide. Her project examines grapevine rootstocks and the role they may play in fertilisation and fruitset of the grapevine. Catherine is  a member of the Australian Society for Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) and is an executive member of the Coonawarra Grapegrowers Association.