Saltram

Shavaughn Wells wins Winestate Australian Winemaker of the Year 2016

Saltram Winemaker Shavaughn Wells has been awarded Australian Winemaker of the Year 2016 by Winestate Magazine at their annual Wine of the Year Awards held in Adelaide. The honour is awarded to the winemaker who produces the largest number of high ranking wines over the course of the year.

One of Australia’s most respected wine magazines, Winestate evaluated over 10,000 wines from Australia and New Zealand, with judging panels of industry winemaker peers, Master of Wine individuals and industry experts, in order to come to their decision regarding Australia’s finest wine producer. Less than five per cent of wines entered reached the finalist stage this year.

Shavaughn Wells’ earliest memories are of growing up on a vineyard in Merbein, near Mildura in Victoria’s north-west. Her grandfather Syd Wells was a winemaker before taking on the role of managing director of Mildara Wines Limited in the 1950s and 1960s. He was responsible for nurturing her early interest in wine. Since those early days of stealing a sip from her grandfather’s glass, winemaking has always been Shavaughn’s passion.

After studying Oenology at Adelaide University’s famous Roseworthy Campus, Shavaughn graduated in 1998. Following in her grandfather’s footsteps, Shavaughn’s first vintage in 1997 was in her hometown of Merbein, working on the white wines at the Mildara winery.

Shavaughn then moved to Mildara’s Coonawarra winery in the late 1990s where she developed a passion for regional varietal wines. In 2000 Shavaughn further expanded her winemaking expertise. While working at Yellowglen, one of Australia’s leading sparkling producers, she learnt the sparkling craft from Charles “Chilly” Hargrave, a time she truly valued.

Healesville in the Yarra Valley was Shavaughn’s home from 2001 to 2003 where she worked with a broad spectrum of wines at Yarra Ridge and St Hubert’s, including Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This experience highlighted to Shavaughn the importance of understanding the impact of sub regions on varietal expression. Shavaughn’s understanding of sparkling wines and Chardonnay was enhanced during a vintage at Caves du Sieur d’Arques in Limoux, France in 2001.

Her winemaking repertoire continued to grow when she moved to the Barossa in 2003, joining the white wine team at Wolf Blass focusing on a Chardonnay project with Pierre-Yves Colin from Burgundy.

In 2005 Shavaughn began working on Saltram red wines alongside Barossa legend Nigel Dolan. Shavaughn believes the Barossa is such a fascinating place to work with Shiraz. “The unique expression of each sub region allows us to craft wines which truly reflect the Barossa’s distinctive character.”

Saltram’s long history in the Barossa has created its unique house style of wines displaying concentration and intensity. Shavaughn recognises the privilege of being a part of Saltram, which has been a significant contributor to the Australian wine industry since 1859.

In recognition of Shavaughn’s passion and understanding of Australian and international wine styles she was awarded a coveted Len Evans Scholarship in 2008.

Shavaughn continues to make premium red wines that are a true testament to the rich history and heritage of the Barossa.

Most recently at the 2013 Adelaide Wine Show Shavaughn Wells WON the Macquarie Private Wealth Prize For Winemaker of the Most Outstanding Red Wine in Show. The 2010 Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz won 2 TROPHIES and a Gold as was named the Most Outstanding Red Wine in Show and Best Shiraz in Show, while the Saltram No 1 Shiraz (2009, 2004 and 1996 vintages) won the Gramp, Hardy, Hill Smith PRIZE for Outstanding Wine of Provenance.

Saltram has celebrated the tradition and heritage behind the Barossa Valley, making flagship red wines of great style and taste. Many of Australia's most influential and celebrated winemakers have passed through the Saltram's cellar doors throughout its 150 year history. During this time, two families dominated winemaking; the Salters and Dolans. Three generations of Salters made wine until 1937 and the Dolans played a part at Saltram from the 1950s through until 2007.

After more than 150 years, the winemaking excellence continues with Saltram still producing quality premium wines loved and admired by many within the Australian wine industry.

Saltram is situated on Nuriootpa Road just a kilometre from the town of Angaston in the Barossa Valley. Saltram draws fruit from its own 45 hectare Saltram Vineyard that surrounds the Saltram Winery and Cellar Door as well as from other vineyards throughout the region. These vineyards are spread over the cooler hills of the Eden Valley to the warmer areas across the valley floor.

The Saltram Vineyard has many varieties planted, with the vast majority planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside some smaller plantings of non-mainstream varieties such as Malbec, Petit Verdot, Barbera, Tempranillo and Sangiovese.

Most of the Saltram vines are irrigated via drip irrigation and supported on a variety of trellising systems with more recent planting on single wire trellising and t-trellising systems. Drip irrigation was developed in the 1950's to allow viticulturist's to grow grapevines in climates with low rainfall. Today however, vineyards with a range of climatic conditions use drip irrigation as it allows them more control over the amount of water the vines receive. This extra control allows them to stress the vine by not irrigating at certain times, and irrigating it at others in order to control the crop level and quality of grapes the vine produces.

Vines on the Saltram vineyard are supplementary irrigated, therefore drip irrigation is applied sparingly other than during extended dry spells and extreme weather events. This is particularly the case with some of the older vines that were planted in the 1950's and 1960's on the deeper soil types toward the bottom of hills and along the river flats. Minimal irrigation encourages the vines to develop deeper self sustaining root systems and helps to produce smaller berries with concentrated flavours more intense wine colour and higher tannin levels. In good years, select parcels from theses vines go into the renowned Saltram No.1 Shiraz and various other special blends that make up Saltram's superb range of wines.