Fiona Donald has been appointed Group Red Winemaker at the Hardy Wine Company.
Ms Donald originally commenced her career with the Company in 1991 at Tintara in McLaren Vale and spent the next six years making wine for Tintara, Renmano Wines and Barossa Valley Estate.
Her winemaking experience spans more than 15 years and includes nine years as Senior Red Winemaker with Penfolds Wines at Nuriootpa, in South Australia’s famed Barossa Valley.
Ms Donald said she was particularly impressed by the Company’s emphasis on quality and regionality across all levels of the winemaking process.
“I’ve just returned from visiting each of the sites around Australia and have seen first hand the commitment of our winemakers to their regions,” Ms Donald said.
“When vintages differ, people out in the regions are in the best position to read early signals and make the decisions required to ensure the best results are attained”, she said.
“Being in regions allows more informed and intuitive winemaking decisions.”
Owning a vineyard in the Barossa Valley, Ms Donald has directly experienced the vagaries of vintage in a viticultural as well as winemaking sense.
“The winemaking role covers so many aspects of the Company and so many people - from viticulture, production, marketing and compliance through to trade, consumers and media,” she said.
“I’ve been impressed by the approach within the Company across all of these aspects and the implicit confidence in the regions, vineyard sites and winemakers involved.
“There is a serious commitment to the fruit characteristics and styles of individual regions.”
Ms Donald has applied her winemaking expertise to a number of wine shows around Australia, both in Associate and Judging roles. She has also contributed to a range of wine industry bodies and projects, particularly within the Barossa Valley community.
Hardy Wine Company Senior Vice President of Group Operations & Technical, and former Group Chief Winemaker, Peter Dawson, welcomed Fiona’s appointment to the group winemaking team.
“It’s great to have Fiona back at the Hardy Wine Company and looking after our red wines”, he said.
“Fiona’s experience and enthusiasm make her ideally suited to driving our red wine portfolio and mentoring our young winemaking team.”
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