Elderton’s scholarship recipients – where are they now?

by Jess Ruciack

I recently caught up with past recipients of the Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship and thought we’d share their great stories with you!

Thomas Darmody

Our inaugural scholarship recipient in 2016, Thomas is involved with the Clare Wine Show had a wine named runner-up in the 2018 Hot 100 Wines .

Where has the world of wine taken you, since your Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship?

In late 2016 I started as an assistant winemaker with Taylors Wines. In 2018 I graduated from my degree in Viticulture and Oenology. I have since been promoted to Winemaker at Taylors and am in the middle of my 5th vintage with the company.

I am also starting to establish a small vineyard in the Barossa Valley.

 

What is one thing you took away from your vintage at Elderton?

An unshakable understanding that great wines can only come from great grapes.

 

What do you love about making wine?

The blend of science and art. While a lot of my decisions are based around the numbers of the chemistry, every year is different and tells a different story.

Photo – Thomas at Taylors Wines

Sam Rogers

Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship recipient in 2017, Sam undertook vintage at Elderton in 2018.

Where has the world of wine taken you, since your Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship?

Since completing a vintage at Elderton and graduating from university, I moved to the Limestone Coast in South Australia. I have always been intrigued by biodynamic grape growing and winemaking, and I was able to work at Cape Jaffa Wines in the winery cellar and laboratory. I am glad to have had the opportunity to work at Cape Jaffa, practicing laboratory methods and learning about organic wine production.

After a period at Cape Jaffa, I chose to focus on viticulture starting a role as Vineyard Supervisor with Treasury Wine Estates in Wrattonbully. This was a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in conventional viticulture in large scale vineyards. In this role our primary production was Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, objectively growing to achieve targeted grading and yields. Throughout this period in Wrattonbully I remained intrigued with organic and biodynamic viticulture and winemaking, after working with conventional viticultural practices.

After 12 months with Treasury Wine Estates I moved to my current role in Kangarilla and Clarendon, working as Viticulturist at Yangarra Estate Vineyard and Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard.

This has been an exciting opportunity to farm two vastly different sites using organics and biodynamics. Being estate vineyards it is a unique opportunity to follow fruit quality through to finished wine.

What is one thing you took away from your vintage at Elderton?

Attention to detail. During vintage at Elderton I observed the extra attention to detail in processes that set the winery aside from others. From intake, to cleaning and laboratory analysis a very high standard was kept throughout the entire vintage period.

Also the fermenter dig outs were a good laugh!

What do you love about making wine?

My favourite part about producing wine is the variation between seasons. Working with organic vineyards I have found no single or repeated approach works year to year, requiring an awareness of the environment we live and work in.

Imogen McNamara

Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship recipient in 2018, Imogen undertook vintage at Elderton in 2019.

Where has the world of wine taken you, since your Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship?

Covid made it challenging to venture far so I have stayed in Barossa. I have been fortunate enough to work at Yalumba, Treasury Wine Estates and currently Chateau Tanunda. With the outlook more promising in regards to overseas travel I hope to expand my experience with vintages abroad.

What is one thing you took away from your vintage at Elderton?

It was my first vintage experience and my time at Elderton gave me great exposure to the realities of harvest time, which is vastly different to winemaking at University. The other thing I took away is that it takes a village to make great wine, the intensity of vintage definitely makes a team come together.

What do you love about making wine?

I love experiencing the transformation of fruit on crushing day through day of bottling and tasting the product as it evolves and matures. It’s just magic!

Lauren Hutton

Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship recipient, Lauren, undertook vintage at Elderton in 2020.

Where has the world of wine taken you, since your Elderton Winemaking Excellence Scholarship?

Since my vintage last year, I was offered a position working a vintage in the US, however due to covid that fell through so luckily I was able spend a few months in the vineyard here at Elderton. I helped with establishing new vineyards as well as removing others.

I then spent 6 months working in the Hunter Valley were I grew to love Semillon!

I’ve been lucky enough to come back to Elderton and work the 2021 vintage as a Vintage Winemaker. This year was fast paced and so nice to see a lot more fruit!

Ed note: Lauren won our ‘Broken Shovel’ Award for 2021 – awarded to the most courageous, dedicated and determined cellarhand during vintage.

What is one thing you took away from your vintage at Elderton?

After working 2 vintages at Elderton it has been lovely to see my knowledge and confidence grow. Last year I spent a lot of time on the cellar floor and really enjoyed working hands on. This year I took a step towards the lab and handled all the analysis as well as still been a part of the cellar crew. This vintage I learnt how to juggle different roles and learnt a lot more about winemaking!

What do you love about making wine?

I love the people. It is amazing to be an industry with so many like minded people as well as being able to live in a beautiful region, such as the Barossa. Everyone I have met along my journey has been kind, welcoming and above all happy to share knowledge. There is a great morale in the industry and everyone is so passionate about it. I love been a part of a sustainable community, which is always working towards a common goal of upholding the Barossa’s wine reputation.

I think the future of our industry is in good hands, with these four representing young, passionate wine professionals across Australia!