Yangarra
The Yangarra philosophy is to produce wines from our single-vineyard estate, that reflect an authentic sense of place.
The property is 170 total hectares, of which nearly 90 hectares are planted to vine. The remaining 80 hectares are preserved for native vegetation and wildlife and is intended to enhance the symbiotic relationship between the vines and their natural environment. Yangarra’s combination of rare geologies, moderate altitude, abundant sunshine and cool evening breezes make it perfect for growing varieties that thrive in the moderate maritime Mediterranean environments. We are devoted to producing wines from the best grape varieties of the southern Rhone, where our old bush vine Grenache is the cornerstone variety. Yangarra Estate is planted with a number of diverse varieties, including traditional grapes like Shiraz and Roussanne to more obscure varieties such as Bourboulenc, Picpoul Noir, Clairette Blanc and Counoise. With a tendency towards experimentation, Yangarra was the first in Australia to commercially plant Grenache Blanc. Through our biodynamic regenerative farming practices and our sensitive winemaking philosophies our respect of this special piece of country is evident in the wines we make from its grapes – every Yangarra Estate wine is a confident reflection of this land.The winemaking philosophy centres around the estate.
With an uncompromising attention to detail in the vineyard, the same approach follows through in the winery. A sensitive and gentle hand in the winemaking, constant observation and knowing “when not to” and “when to” are key pillars aimed solely at preserving the natural characters that originate from Yangarra’s distinctive vineyard.
Yangarra draw inspiration upon the tried and tested techniques of old, such as wild fermentation, basket pressing, amphoras, ceramic eggs and large format oak foudre.
They aim to make a classic and timeless style of wine, remaining true to varietal character and recognizable to admirers of other global benchmarks.
Winemaker and General Manager, Peter Fraser, has been the winemaker and driving force behind Yangarra Estate Vineyard since 2000. With a sensitive approach to winemaking, Peter believes attention to detail is essential at every step of farming and making wine. His approach relies on observing, questioning and responding to the nuances of each vintage, yielding honest and confident wines of provenance. Peter’s near obsession with texture and purity drives decisions in the vineyard and innovation in the winery, evidenced by his experimentation with stone and ceramic vessels for fermentation and aging.
Recognised for his leadership with Grenache and Shiraz, Peter Fraser has been nominated and awarded “Winemaker of the Year” by global wine publications, including Halliday Wine Companion (2015), Gourmet Traveller Wine (2017), and Wine Enthusiast (2018).
Summary of Major Accolades:
2018 - Finalist - Wine Enthusiast magazine (USA) wine star awards, “Winemaker of the Year”
2017 – Finalist - Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine “Winemaker of the Year”
2015- James Halliday Wine Companion, 2016 “Winemaker of the Year”