Andrew Wigan
Chief Winemaker
My favourite variety and vintage?
Probably the 1982 Peter Lehmann Barossa Riesling which was actually 100% from the Eden Valley region of the Barossa. It was early in our history and Peter decided to buy as much Eden Valley Riesling as he could so he offered the best price in the district. We made a huge volume and it went on in its first year to win best Riesling in the Adelaide Wine Show. Later in its life it would go on to win Best International Riesling in the IWSC in London.
My proudest wine which I have been associated with?
The wine am most proud of being associated with is our 1993 Reserve Riesling which went on to win 32 trophies and 47 gold medals around the world and probably stands as the most successful show wine in Australian wine show history. It became so successful that it started to annoy the rest of the industry off so eventually we stopped showing it.
The Growers
There is a very special relationship that exists between the Barossa grape growers and Peter Lehmann Wines. Peter Lehmann founded the winery to protect the livelihoods, and the Barossa vineyards, of the growers who, over the years, had become mates first and suppliers second.
The trust, the loyalty and the friendships that have endured and grown over the years mean that Peter Lehmann Wines has access to the widest variety of the best Barossa fruit available - in good times and bad.
It is for these reasons that the company took the conscious decision not to invest heavily in its own vineyards. The winery does own 73ha of vineyard, including the Stonewell Vineyard, but the fruit from these vineyards accounts for only 3% of the company’s total requirements.
Barossa growers regard themselves as custodians of their vineyards with a solemn duty to pass the land on to the next generation in a better condition than they found it.
Peter Lehmann Wines is delighted to work in partnership with our growers who bring to their business a profound understanding and respect for the land, the land which sustains us all.
