Meet the Winemaker (Episode 14): Dean Hewitson, Hewitson
Dean Hewitson from Hewitson explains to Debra that although they are based in Adelaide, they source grapes from a range of vineyards in the Adelaide Super Zone. Dean tells Debra why Adelaide is such a great city and how wine is an unavoidable aspect of life, how his wife has been integral to the business, and why his Old Garden wine is so very different.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 13): Stefano Lubiana, Stefano Lubiana Wines
Stefano Lubiana of Stefano Lubiana Wines in Tasmania, Australia, a fifth generation winemaker, tells Debra how the winery was his playground while growing up, why he chose Australia’s Apple Isle to settle and make wines, and about how he tried to imbue his label with a little opulence and luxury. Stefano explains that his passion for sparkling wine comes from the challenge of the two part process of this style of winemaking, and he tells Debra how to judge the quality of sparkling wines.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 12): Tim Adams, Tim Adams Wines
Tim Adams of Tim Adams Wines in the Clare Valley, South Australia, explains how working the unique geographics in the Clare Valley figures highly in the region’s winemaking, whether local styles are changing on the Riesling front in Clare, as well as a little masterclass on tasting a Tim Adams Semillon, concentrating on colour, smell and taste.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 11): Simon Brunell, Cape Mentelle
Cape Mentelle’s Simon Brunell, an Adelaide boy who has skipped the Southern state in favour of Margaret River, explains why the move West, along with the reasoning behind Cape Mentelle returning to the traditional method of basket pressing their red wines. He and Debra sip the 2007 Cape Mentell Chardonnay, a Chardonnay made in very much the Burgundian style, yet with the vibrant new world fruit for which Margaret River is famed.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 10): Sergio Carlei, Turners Crossing
Debra catches up with Sergio Carlei owner of Carlei Vineyards (Victoria) and winemaker for Turners Crossing (Bendigo, Victoria). With loads of awards – ten 90+ point wines and James Halliday’s five-star award – under his belt, Debra finds out how Sergio handles it when he gets a bad review and how his Calabrian heritages testa dura influences his winemaking. They go on to discuss the pros and cons of Sergio’s biodynamic vineyards and the important role the planets play in this type of agriculture.
Meet the Winemaker (Episode 9): Ben Riggs, South Australias McLaren Vale winery
Multi-award winning winemaker Ben Riggs of South Australias McLaren Vale winery. Mr Riggs, gives Debra the lowdown on why the region is considered the middle palate of Australia as well as a background on McLaren Vales rise from almost obscurity 20 years ago. Ben discusses his experiences in Europe as one of the first flying winemakers and reveals that blending is the element of winemaking he feels most passionately about.
