Think grape pickers, designers, marketers, cellar staff, sales people and wordsmiths among many playing a role.
May 1 will see the release of the 52nd vintage of Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz, with the 2023 vintage dedicated to a man whose words have graced the wine's labels for more than three decades: Peter Sawrey.
Each year, The Signature honours an individual who has made a profound contribution to Yalumba’s culture and traditions.
The person honoured is chosen by fifth-generation proprietor Robert Hill-Smith.
Since 1994, Sawrey has written the back label story for every vintage of The Signature; interviewing each Signatory, distilling their character and contribution, and translating Yalumba’s history into the words that travel with every bottle around the world.
Jessica Hill-Smith says: "Sawrey's storytelling has become as intrinsic to The Signature as the blend itself,"
“An authentic wine must have an authentic recipient, and the 2023 wine is a ripper,” said her father, Robert Hill-Smith.
“The Signatory dedication is an important tradition for our family business. It is wonderful to see it
grow within our company, with the wine trade, and with people drinking The Signature around the
world.”
Sawrey joined Yalumba in 1988, contributing across events and marketing, and became a custodian of the brand’s narrative. It was in 1994 that Hill-Smith first asked him to interview Peter “PJ” Wall for the back label of the 1990 vintage. What followed was more than three decades of conversations.
Even after retiring from Yalumba in 2009, Sawrey was still invited to write The Signature’s back label.
On being named the 2023 Signatory, Sawrey said: “I am moved. I have dreamt about this day. I have
enjoyed writing the stories of Yalumba’s Signatories all these years, and now I look forward to writing
my own!”
The wine was made by another Yalumba retiree, Kevin Glastonbury, and I will report back when I have tried it.
Pre-release purchases are available via yalumba.com. RRP $74.
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