After six months as contract winemaker for Taltarni Vineyards, Leigh Clarnette signs on this month as senior winemaker.

Leigh joined Taltarni as senior winemaker in February 2003; 20 years and 22 vintages after entering the wine business. A graduate from South Australia’s esteemed Roseworthy College; Leigh has worked as a winemaker for boutique wineries such as Tarrawarra, Padthaway Estate, Kirwan’s Bridge and Millers Château Yarrinya. This has honed his winemaking skill and love for quality wines. Leigh has added to his repertoire with experience in several larger wineries including Seppelt and McPherson during the 1990s.

As one of Tarrawarra’s first winemakers, Leigh’s passion for sparkling was born with the making of sparkling base wines for Domain Chandon’s 1986 vintage—their first Yarra Valley venture. While working at Seppelt’s, Leigh was able to further expand his sparkling wine expertise, contributing to Seppelt’s great sparkling wines such as Seppelt Salinger and the 1995 Seaview Chardonnay Blanc de Blanc – a wine show circuit darling of its time.

Not one to be pigeon-holed; Leigh’s thirst for making great wine isn’t limited to the sparkling variety. The first Tarrawarra Chardonnay (1986); made by Leigh and David Wollan, won critical acclaim within the Australian wine industry and his 1996 Seppelt Great Western Vineyards Shiraz and Chalambar Shiraz were both Jimmy Watson runner ups.

“Outstanding wines are created by the quality of the fruit. We are fortunate enough to have two vineyards—Taltarni in Victoria’s Pyrenees region and Clover Hill in Tasmania’s Pipers River region—both of which provide remarkable fruit.

“Traditionally, the region and the seasons are of high importance to the outcome of fruit quality; we see these regional and seasonal variations in our vineyards and are now looking to our own viticultural management practices to maximise that quality edge.

“Taltarni’s long and illustrious history for making sparkling wines and world-class red and white wines arises from the aspirations and dedication of the people who work for it—I feel very privileged to be a part of that and look forward to contributing my knowledge and expertise in the pursuit of great Taltarni wine.”