Brokenwood

Iain Riggs, Managing Director, Chief Winemaker and part owner of Brokenwood, has taken Brokenwood from a small “hobby” winery and into the national and international arena.

Iain’s skills in white winemaking revolutionized Brokenwood, which, when Riggs joined, produced only red wines. A year into his tenure, with the 1983 vintage, production levels changed to 70% white wine and 30% red. 

Iain is immediate Chairman of the Hunter Valley Wine Show, having taken over from Len Evans in 2002 and is currently Chairman of Judges at the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show as well as the Shanghai International Wine Challenge. His strong interest in ‘improving the breed’ of Australian wine sees him as Chairman of Trustees of the Len Evans Foundation that conducts the week long Len Evans Tutorial. On the wine industry political side, Iain was an inaugural Board member of the Winemakers Federation of Australia, its Vice-President and President of the Australian Winemakers Forum. For relaxation, Iain is currently President of the Pokolbin (Reds) Rugby Club. 

In 2001, Iain Riggs was nominated by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine as a finalist in the Winemaker of the Year feature. In 2003, Iain was awarded the Graham Gregory trophy for outstanding service to the NSW wine industry.

 Born in Burra, South Australia in 1955, Iain’s first insight into the wine industry was through relatives who lived in the Riverland region of South Australia. These were very much ‘brandy and dry’ times, but the allure of table wine drew the young Riggs. The experience that set him on the path that was to become his life was a bottle of 1970 Leo Buring DW110 Riesling – he has been tied to the power of the vine ever since.

 Iain studied at Roseworthy College between 1972 and 1975, graduating with honours. At this time, the industry was undergoing a major change – namely the emergence of white wine. He first worked at Bleasedale and Hazelmere in McLaren Vale. At Hazelmere, he sparked his interest in varietal blending and was one of the pioneers of the now-famous combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. At Hazelmere, Iain, as Chief Winemaker, focused on white wines, and was crowned McLaren Vale Bushing King in 1982 with his multi-trophy-winning Chardonnay.

 The owners of Brokenwood, keen to grow their business and expand into white wine production, offered Iain the job of Chief Winemaker in 1982. That year, a new winery was built. Iain’s skills in white winemaking revolutionised Brokenwood, which, when Riggs joined, produced only red wines. A year into his tenure, with the 1983 vintage, production levels changed to 70% white wine and 30% red.

Brokenwood’s committed to a program of regional blending from 1978 in an attempt to even out some of the more difficult Hunter Valley vintages as well as continuing a long held tradition in Australian winemaking. As such Beechworth was identified as one of the most exciting up and coming regions with Riggs and Brokenwood assisting in the establishment of the Indigo Vineyard in the late 1990s. The Brokenwood winemaking team now has premium Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris and newer varietals that include Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Rousanne and Viognier available. McLaren Vale and the Orange region add more quality fruit.

 Iain is known as the force behind the Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz and its promotion as a unique single vineyard Shiraz. Recently elevated to the top level – Exceptional, on the Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine, it is still the only Hunter Valley Shiraz to feature. A number of other premium Shiraz feature in the portfolio including Mistress Block, Verona, Wade block 2 and the Indigo vineyard Shiraz. Riggs is also a great promoter of Hunter Valley Semillon with the ILR (Iain Leslie Riggs) Reserve Semillon the flagship.

 As vintage 2012 is the 30^th with Iain at the helm, the premium region focus and Single Vineyard philosophy is as strong as ever.

NEW Brokenwood Winemaker, Simon Steele

HUNTER VALLEY based Brokenwood Wines is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Steele to the position of winemaker. Simon previously worked at Brokenwood during the 2003 vintage, when he was given the nick-name Stainless.

Simon has packed considerable experience into a short time. He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1999 with a Bachelor of Management, specialising in logistics and marketing, and then again in 2005 with a degree in Oenology. During his studies he worked in several regions in Australia, including Margaret River, the Adelaide Hills, the Grampians and Beechworth, and also in Burgundy and Spain.

His latest postions were as winemaker for Shadowfax and then Chapoutier in Victoria.

Brokenwood’s Chief Winemaker and CEO Iain Riggs said today ‘We were looking for a winemaker with experiences across a range of warm and cool regions and with good management ability and Simon brings all of these. He has a reputation as a sharp taster who ‘gets’ the wines of the world, and we know from his time here in 2003 that he also fits this unusal place that’s Brokenwood, so that’s an additional bonus.’

Simon’s excited about his coming role. ‘Brokenwood has great vineyards to work with, the Graveyard and Hunter Semillon, Beechworth has great potential and McLaren Vale’s home, so there’s wonderful diversity. Working with Iain is a great opportunity, too.”

Simon will take up his new position in early November.

It’s out!! The Winter 2011 issue of Hunter Valley Breathe is now out and about in Sydney and the Hunter Valley.  

 Join us in congratulating the 2011 Hunter Valley Legends & Wine Industry Award winners, discover some great alternative varieties, chat with 2011 Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year – Liz Jackson, meet some friendly locals, review some great Hunter Valley wines, and prepare for a wonderful winter feast. And of course find out What’s On & who has been out & about.

 Winter 2011 Hunter Valley Breathe is also on line at issuu.com at http://bit.ly/mcsqXr

 Thank you for supporting Hunter Valley Breathe and we hope you enjoy this new issue.

Catch up on WHAT’S NEWS @ the wood!

WELCOME  to Brokenwood’s 40^th birthday celebrations. As we are no strangers to parties, (remember the Brokenwood Mission Statement is ‘Make Great Wine and Have Fun’), we thought that more than just a dinner was needed. Hence we have a weekend of tasting, eating and drinking lined up.

There is of course a serious part. Brokenwood started its verticals of Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz tastings back in the mid 1990s followed by the ‘Monumental’ tasting in 2000 and the opening of the Albert Room in 2006. We slipped in a bit of fun with the ‘Horizontal/Vertical’ tasting held in the Crypt of St John’s in Sydney in 2002. What these tastings tell us is how the wine style is evolving, what is the impact of conditions of one vintage to the next and are we correct in our belief in the quality of this special 42 year old vineyard. Another aspect can now be included as the Graveyard Shiraz has been under screw cap since 2002. This weekend we go one step further and will open bottles (or magnums/ imperials) of every wine we’ve made, if we have them, since 1973.

The Brokenwood story has been well documented over the years. The three founders, James Halliday, John Beeston and Tony Albert declined to be part of the grand plans of Len Evans for The Rothbury Estate (1968) and opted instead to go it alone in their own venture. Len would comment in later years that he couldn’t understand why he wasn’t asked to be part of Brokenwood. The 1960s saw enormous changes in the Hunter Valley. Many believe that Max Lake and Lakes Folly was the catalyst and by the end of the decade the Hunter Valley was shaken from its slumber of the previous 3 or 4 decades. Those jumping on the bandwagon included Jim Roberts at Belbourie – 1964, Hungerford Hill Syndicate, Frank Margan’s De Beyer’s and Tamburlaine – all 1967 and Don Francois 1969.

The purchase of the 10-acre Cricket Pitch block on McDonalds Rd in October 1970 nearly didn’t happen due to the vigorous counter bidding of the Hungerford Hill syndicate. By time the Brokenwood lads had purchased their block, cleared it through 1971 and had grapes to vinify in 1973 they were part of a second wave of enthusiasm that included Terrace Vale, Verona, Marsh Estate, Millstone and Rosemount in the Upper Hunter. Then so quickly did things turn around that 7 years after the bidding war, Hungerford Hill was selling land and offered Brokenwood the chance to buy the Graveyard Vineyard, first planted in 1968.The tree block separating the Cricket Pitch and Graveyard has remained elusive to Brokenwood and to remind the Brokenwood lads of his under-bidder status, Simon Currant GM of Hungerford Hill in the 70s would send outrageous accounts for firewood collected in the scrub by Brokenwood.

This weekend will represent a bit history, a bit of fun, a chance to catch up with old friends, a glimpse at the evolution of a boutique winery run by a group of mates and, most of all, a chronology of the Australian wine industry across four very distinct decades – from flares and flowers to mullet hair-do’s to portly frames or in a vinous sense – under ripe, high acid reds to heavily oaked whites to wines of balance and finesse.

Thanks for joining us.

PARTY ON: Brokenwood chief winemaker Iain Riggs

Herald News by Donna Sharpe
IF life begins at 40, Brokenwood Wines still has plenty more good vintages in it … General Manager Geoff Krieger said the weekend would represent a bit of history, a bit of fun, and a glimpse into the evolution of a boutique winery run by a group of mates … ‘Brokenwood does a great party and we like to live up to our mission statement, and of course the serious side is making the best quality wine we can, so I think we’ve pretty much got the balance right,’ he said.