International opportunity for winemaker

PASSION FOR WINE: Katnook Estate's international winemaker Jo Ahearne is returning to Europe after spending time in the region during the 2018 vintage
PASSION FOR WINE: Katnook Estate’s international winemaker Jo Ahearne is returning to Europe after spending time in the region during the 2018 vintage

KATNOOK Estate’s international winemaker has contributed to a successfully completed 2018 vintage, after she made the journey from the UK to experience life in the region.

Jo Ahearne has travelled across Australia and Europe doing what she loves most – making wine.

She began her work in the wine trade in the UK, where she worked for the company Oddbins.

“My fascination with wine began at this company as I found it interesting to learn how you actually had to sell wine compared to making it,” Ms Ahearne said.

“I then began to do vintage to expand my knowledge of production because I wanted to start a Master of Wine degree.”

Ms Ahearne said her passion for wine making began when she discovered the role was a mixture of both art and science.

Ms Ahearne has worked in every corner of Australia over 10 years which included the Clare Valley, Tasmania, McLaren Vale and Griffith.

“I then left Australia to head back to Europe, where I worked in vineyards there and in South America,” she said.

However, Ms Ahearne was looking to come back to Australia after being away for seven years.

“I have a small winery in Croatia and I wanted to echo the Australian wine system over there and find out how that would work and if it was possible,” she said.

“Obviously you need money to undertake a project like that, and due to circumstances, this position came up.”

Ms Ahearne said the team had been wonderful and she couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

“Coonawarra has been wonderful and welcoming, it is a fantastic community,” she said.

“As it is such a long way from everything else, there is a strong sense of community because everyone has to band together and do things.”

When describing her love for the region’s scenery, Ms Ahearne said it had its own personality, and loved the opportunity to work in a place so famous for its wine.

“It really is majestic and incredibly Australian,” she said.

“When I would come back to Australia I used to drive along with the windows open smelling the gum trees, just that smell was incredible.”

Ms Ahearne had a connection to Coonawarra years ago when she first tasted a riesling.

“Weirdly the first riesling I ever tasted was from Coonawarra – there are some beautiful rieslings down here which was a surprise I was not expecting,” she said.

Ms Ahearne will make the journey back to Croatia this month.

“I will have an Australian part of the label, so it will involve a lot of backwards and forwards but I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.