THE WINE FRONT

Interview by Adam Catford 

Name:
Samantha Connew       

Age:
35

Where you currently make wine:
Wirra Wirra.

Where you’ve made wine in the past:  
Wirra Wirra is my first full time winemaking job!!  I have worked vintages at Brokenwood, Cape Mentelle, Elk Cove (specialist Pinot Noir winery in Oregon’s Williamette Valley – tiny production, manual process), Beaux Freres – which means “Brother’s in Law”, a winery co-owned by Robert Parker and funnily enough his brother in law! 

Most significant wine you’ve ever drunk:
1993 Ata Rangi, 1994 DRC Richebourg and 1975 Petrus.

How was it?  
The reason the Ata Rangi stands out is as much for the impact it has had on my life and career as the wine itself.  This wine converted me from law – some may say I was ‘saved’ as Law would have eventually driven me to drink in any case!  
Adam’s note:  Sam completed her Law degree but had chosen to move into winemaking prior to completion of this degree – in meeting Sam, one senses a perfection and completion streak that will serve her and Wirra Wirra very well, and possibly drive some in the admin and management team nuts! Sam also holds Degrees in Political Science and Literature!

Wine you’re most proud of having been associated with the making of?  
RSW 2002 – the first one I was solely responsible for.

Is there any wine you’ve been associated with the making of that, if you had your time again, you’d treat/make differently?  
All of them!  What keeps me going is knowing that I’m never ever going to get it 100% right!

In your opinion, which wine style/grape variety does Australia and New Zealand, respectively, do best?  
Semillon and Pinot.

Other than the wineries you have worked with, which Australian/NZ winery is best represented in your personal cellar?  
Ata Rangi, Cullen, Spinifex.

Favourite wine region (Australia):
Go the Hunter!

Favourite wine region (world-wide):
D’oh! Burgundy of course!

Favourite movie:
Three Colours Blue; Garden State.

Favourite book (general):
To Kill a Mockingbird.

Note:  Whilst we chatted, Sam’s passion for quality and excellence was evident, and on mentioning the masterpiece and reference point for books attempting to define quality and what it is that creates quality – Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Sam said – ‘I can’t believe so many people HAVEN’T read it!!’.  Passion and care translate into quality, assuming the requisite knowledge and skills and Sam sees one of the greatest traits in the Australian wine industry is the care and passion to create the best wines possible.  At the same time Sam is regularly disillusioned at the number of winemakers who remain in the industry after that passion is gone, and produce lesser wines as a result.   

Favourite wine-related book:
The Heartbreak Grape (must read for Burg Nuts!  Hugh Johnson’s Wine Atlas.

Desert-island food-wine match:  
I feel food-wine matching is over rated largely because there is so much personal preference involved.  However, personally I would enjoy Duck and Vosne Romanèe or Crème brûlée and d’Yquem. 

How do you take your coffee?  
Intravenously!

What do you most love about the wine industry?
Amazing people – their generosity of spirit, of sharing knowledge and their passion for growing great grapes and making great wine.

What do you most detest about the wine industry?
Navel gazing.  Lsoing sight of what it is all about – the fact is, we are not saving lives here, we are making a pleasurable alcoholic beverage which we hope will enhance occasions and create enjoyable experiences. 

Any comments you would like to make in relation to the wine industry here or globally?  
Sustainability on all levels is vital.  Financial, environmental and socially.

Finally, the 2007 vintage is being described as a disaster.  How did you fare?  
The pressure was on to find quality fruit and of course quantity is down, but quality is up.  Shiraz is a standout, Cabernet will be solid. Adelaide Hills seemed to fare better than many regions overall.