With each issue, Wineries of Victoria delves into the lives and ambitions of local winemakers to give its readers an in-depth knowledge of the people behind the great wines created in the cold climate of Victoria. With a varying terroir and many boutique wineries experimenting with obscure varietals, Victoria offers an abundance of opportunity, which is why it has become such an important part of the winemaking industry.
Attracting some of the best winemakers in Australia, the wine regions of Victoria create some of the best cool-climate wines in the world, including shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay, and many sparkling wines.
Featured below is the esteemed Meg Brodtmann, who in 2002 gained the label of first female Master of Wine, from the international Institute of Masters of Wine. The owner of Tallis Wine, Richard Tallis, is also featured as he is an experienced winemaker with a degree in wine science from Charles Sturt University.
With a family history in winemaking, Axel Friend became the chief winemaker at his family-owned winery Narkoojee Winery & Restaurant after completing two degrees and years of managing the vineyard. Scroll on to discover many other winemakers that have been featured in a number of previous issues of the magazine, while you can click on the View Winery Profiles button in each post to find out more about their winery.
With each issue of Wineries of Victoria a number of amazing winemakers from throughout Victoria are brought to light, while it also features a number of articles about the illustrious wine regions, specific wineries and the unique terroir and winemaking methods. Click on the Winery Articles tab above to discover more about the fruitful vineyards and the surrounding landmarks and history, as well as input and advice from the local wineries and tourist sites.
Read on below to discover more about the amazing people that keep the Australian wine industry at its best!
LANCE MIKISCH – CAPERCAILLIE WINES
Lance Mikisch WINEMAKER AND VIGNERON AT CAPERCAILLIE WINES“I find it incredibly rewarding to guide that process from vineyard to bottle.” When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? I didn’t grow up thinking I would be a winemaker. I am a sixth-generation...
ANDREW HIGGINS – TAMBURLAINE ORGANIC WINES
Andrew Higgins CHIEF WINEMAKER AT TAMBURLAINE ORGANIC WINES“I will always strive to make wines that are truly expressive of where they come from." When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? I drifted into Wine Science at CSU in 1999, not for the love of...
SAM STATHAM – ROSNAY ORGANIC
Sam Statham WINEMAKER AT ROSNAY ORGANIC“It’s a nerve-racking but satisfying art.” When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? As a grape grower, I always wanted to make wine but doubted myself as I was never good at chemistry. In 2012, we won the inaugural...
Thomas Dunstan – Pieter Van Gent Winery & Vineyard
Thomas Dunstan HEAD WINEMAKER AT PIETER VAN GENT WINERY & VINEYARD"I still get a buzz from the smell that hits you the first time you fill a new French Oak barrel" When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? After two years of studying economics at...
JEAN-FRANCOIS ESNAULT – SKIMSTONE WINES, MUDGEE
Jean-Francois Esnault WINEMAKER AND VINEYARD MANAGER AT SKIMSTONE WINES, MUDGEE “There’s something magical about starting the season with the pruning shears in hand." When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? I’ve been working in the wine industry since I...
JAN TABORSKY – TOPPER’S MOUNTAIN WINES
Jan Taborsky WINEMAKER AT TOPPER'S MOUNTAIN WINES“The fact that I make wine now still amuses me. How lucky am I?” When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? I actually never thought I could be a winemaker. And I still don’t understand how I became one of...
STEPHEN DRAYTON – IVANHOE WINES
Stephen Drayton VITICULTURALIST AND VIGNERON AT IVANHOE WINES"The big thing about viticulture is that no two days are the same."When did you realise you wanted to become a vigneron? I have been working in the Hunter Valley wine industry my entire life. I grew up as...
Jeff Aston – Tractorless Vineyard
Jeff Aston WINEMAKER AT TRACTORLESS VINEYARD “For me wine is like music – there is always the perfect one for a particular occasion, food and time."When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? When I finished year twelve, I was tossing up between being an...
PETER LOGAN – LOGAN
Peter Logan FOUNDER AND CHIEF WINEMAKER AT LOGAN"It can be hard work, but it’s exhilarating when you get it right and can create joy."When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? Growing up, all I wanted to do was play Rugby for the Wallabies and be a...
JACOB LAW – LERIDA ESTATE
Jacob Law HEAD WINEMAKER AT LERIDA ESTATE"I love being able to share the fruits of our labour with my friends and family."When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? I had been travelling in Europe, and I liked wine but didn’t know much about its...
MICHELLE CROCKETT – ELING FOREST WINERY
Michelle Crockett WINEMAKER AT ELING FOREST WINERY“I love to see people’s face light up as they taste something new.”When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? Thirty years ago, I first thought about the possibility of making wine. I had an interest in a...
Rick Staniford – Bunnamagoo Estate Wines
Rick Staniford SENIOR WINEMAKER AT BUNNAMAGOO ESTATE WINES "I found a love of winemaking which transitioned my plans of working in a vineyard to that of a winery." When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? My passion for viticulture began in my teenage...
GLEN SNAIDERO – NUGAN ESTATE
Glen Snaidero CHIEF WINEMAKER AT NUGAN ESTATE“I always enjoy something different – styles that can’t necessarily be easily found on a shelf.When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? My interest in viticulture began from the age of around six, growing up...
JOHN BELSHAM -WINMARK WINES
John Belsham CONSULTANT WINEMAKER AT WINMARK WINES“I relish that the learning has never ceased, nor will it."When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? Once I started working in the vineyard, and very soon thereafter at the winery as a young apprentice – I...
Bryan Currie – Hungerford Hill
Bryan Currie CHIEF WINEMAKER AND GENERAL MANAGER AT HUNGERFORD HILL"Being able to create wines and following the process from vineyard to bottle is a thrill every vintage."When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? My first love was palaeontology. It was...
Andrew Duff – Briar Ridge Vineyard
Andrew Duff WINEMAKER AT BRIAR RIDGE VINEYARD “We have some of the best wines in the world." When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? It was from a very young age. My mother recalls it being as early as the age of four years old. When I was asked what I...
NICK FLANAGAN – GLANDORE WINES
Nick Flanagan WINEMAKER AT GLANDORE WINES“My career feels more like a lifestyle than a job.”When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker? In my early twenties I lived for travel. While I was backpacking, I worked in labouring and enjoyed the physical aspect...
Suzanne Little – The Little Wine Co.
Suzanne Little WINEMAKER AT THE LITTLE WINE CO.“2025 marks twenty-five years of The Little Wine Company, which is something we are both very proud of.”When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker?When I was sixteen, my cousin Jan came to visit and at the time...
Andrew Thomas – Thomas Wines
Andrew Thomas OWNER AND WINEMAKER AT THOMAS WINES“I love the diversity of my day to day.”When did you realise you wanted to become a winemaker?Having grown up in a winemaking family amongst the vines and wines of McLaren Vale, I guess it was my destiny. Although, as a...
Cassegrain Wines – Alex Cassegrain
I am here for every parcel of fruit that arrives and will spend the time looking at the juice all the way through to a wine. I like to give the wine every opportunity to be the best it can be and not be dictated by a recipe.