New guard with good genes on deck at De Bortoli Yarra Valley

There is a new generation of winemakers coming though at De Bortoli Yarra Valley, learning their trade from maestro Steve Webber.

 
Do Bortoli has lost both long-time winemaker Sarah Fagan (now at TarraWarra) and Jono Thompson, who is leaving to head to Argentina.

Kate Webber. daughter of Webber and Leanne de Bortoli, has joined the senior team along with young winemaker Jai Harrop; who is the son of Matt Harrop (Curly Flat/Silentway and formerly Shadowfax) and Tamara Grischy (general manager at fine wine auction house Langtons).
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"Our daughter Kate and Jai, under the watchful gaze of Steve, will look after the Yarra winemaking," Leanne de Bortoli says.

"Kate graduated in Science (immunology) and has worked in all aspects of wine and done vintages in California, France and with Mac Forbes here in the Yarra.

"We joke that Jai has never tried a bad bottle of wine in his life. He graduated in Oenology last year and has done vintages at Brokenwood, Shaw + Smith, Shadowfax and in Central Otago.

"We are super-excited about their passion for wine, the new ideas they bring and their eye for detail. It is great to see the next generation of winemakers coming through."

Change is also afoot at De Bortoli home base in the Riverina, where the long-time maker of the iconic Noble One, Julie Mortlock, is about to retire.

The mantle of Noble One creator will be passed to another senior winemakers John Coughlan, who has been involved with Noble One in the past.

Image: Father and daughter team Steve and Kate Webber

Fagan lands a plum wine role in the Yarra Valley

The talented Sarah Fagan has been appointed as the new chief winemaker at Tarrawarra Estate in the Yarra Valley.

Fagan, who has spent almost two decades working with Steve Webber and the DeBortoli Yarra Valley team, starts her new role next week.

Back when I first started writing about wine, Rob and Judy Hirst from Fine Wine Partners invited me to the launch of a new wine label owned by clothing industry icons Marc and Eva Besen.

That was back in the mid 1980s. Since then Tarrawarra has added a top-notch restaurant, a museum of modern art and become recognised as one of the standouts in the Yarra.

Fagan, whose family have their own vineyard in Cowra, joined De Bortoli Yarra Valley as a casual vintage worker in 2003 and progressed through the ranks to her most recent role as senior winemaker.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey at De Bortoli and I am proud of the wines we have made
over my time of working with their vineyards," she said.

"Tarrawarra Estate has always carved its own independent path here in the Yarra Valley and I look forward to continuing this tradition and embracing change and the development of Tarrawarra Estate into the future.” 

The Besen family say their philosophy has always been rooted in respect for excellence, provenance, and sustainability, with the vision to "produce wines of great quality and integrity, amidst a location of beauty and welcome".

Fagan will be responsible for all aspects of Tarrawarra Estate winemaking and winery operations.

An experienced wine judge, she has studied cool-climate winemaking in regions all over the world.

“We are absolutely delighted that Sarah has chosen the Tarrawarra Estate role as the opportunity to
spread her wings," said Tarrawarra Estate general manager Samantha Isherwood.

"We welcome her to the production team and look forward to seeing her personal stamp on future Tarrawarra Estate vintages.”

All of TarraWarra Estate’s wines are grown, handpicked, vinified and aged on the estate. See tarrawarra.com.au