Peter Fraser of Yangarra Estate Vineyard, McLaren Vale has been awarded the title of Winemaker of the Year in the 2016 James Halliday Wine Companion.
Fraser said that he was very humbled to win the award, adding that the accolade represents the efforts of the Yangarra winemaking team as well as the Estate’s commitment to sustainable viticultural management practices.
“To win the winemaker of the year is very exciting for Yangarra, and also very humbling considering the quality of wine that some of the great Australian producers are creating,” says Fraser.
“Hopefully an award of this calibre creates an interest for people to try not only our wines, but McLaren Vale’s”.
Yangarra Vineyard Estate is a member of McLaren Vale’s Sustainable Australia Winegrowing program (SAW) which was developed by growers and peer reviewed by industry leaders.
The program encompasses all types of viticultural practices from conventional through to certified biodynamic and provides Australian growers and regions with benchmarks through a triple bottom line approach that takes into account not only environmental factors, but also social and economic factors.
“There is no finite point for achieving sustainability; it is a continuous pathway of improvement for both the grower and the region, and it’s this understanding that is at the heart of the SAW program,” say MVGWTA Chairman, Tom Harvey.
“McLaren Vale is actually home to more vineyards and acreage of certified and uncertified sustainable, organic and bio-dynamic vineyards in Australia.
“Our grape growers are leading Australia and arguably the world in sustainable vineyard practices, and it’s these practices which will continue to propel McLaren Vale’s recognition at home and internationally.”