COONAWARRA winemaker Peter Bissell will say goodbye to the vineyards at Balnaves of Coonawarra when he retires later this month.
First stepping onto the Balnaves property in 1995, the wine industry veteran leaves a formidable legacy in his wake.
Since entering the viticulture industry in 1981 in New Zealand, Mr Bissell has taken part in more than 40 vintages – with an overwhelming majority situated on terra rossa soil during his 31 years as a winemaker in the region.
With a string of awards trailing his name, Mr Bissell entered the viticulture industry in 1981 when he started winemaking in New Zealand.
After stints in Italy, Russia, France and the United States, Mr Bissell accepted a position at Wynns Coonawarra in 1989.
“It was amazing to work at Bordeaux in France as I was lucky enough to work for a good company,” Mr Bissell said.
“It was the first really important experience I had because they have an amazing philosophy about winemaking and I was also able to learn French which expended my literature.
“I had a great time (at Wynns) because they have such a good vineyard there.
“I learnt a lot of in house winemaking traditions and my time there was an invaluable learning experience.”
Mr Bissell worked for Wynns for six years before moving to Balnaves, where he planned and supervised the construction of the current winery.
The striking 1000 tonne winery was completed in 1996 and the same year, Mr Bissell produced the first Balnaves wine.
In 1998, the first label’s first Super Premium Cabernet Sauvignon wine – The Tally – was produced after some urging from Mr Bissell.
Just nine years later, the 2004 The Tally won the prestigious Jeremy Oliver’s Wine of the Year and has made the Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine list on three occasions ranked as “outstanding”.
“I have been very lucky to be at Balnaves because the family is full of viticulturalists and have been very supportive of me doing innovative things in the winery and making the style of wine that we do,” he said.
“Being here for so long proves it is a great work environment and working with Peter Balnaves in the vineyards to improve what we are doing has been a good professional experience.”
Mr Bissell’s innovation has been repeatedly recognised over the years, winning the Qantas/Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year in 2005 and the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Winemaker of the Year in 2018.
“That was a huge thing for us and Balnaves because Qantas was a major sponsor of the award so each flight news item had a story about the winery which was unbelievable promotional value for the brand,” he said.
“I think they may have been a little cheesed off when I got back from the ceremony because we had an avalanche of orders.
“We had so many orders coming in that everyone in the office had to do extra hours.”
“From a winemaker point of view, winning a lot of trophies n and gaining that recognition for the winemaking we did is very satisfying.”
In recent years, Mr Bissell has provided viticulture advice, winemaking tips and information on the latest winemaking technology as a flying winemaker.
Mr Bissell hopes to continue to travel and visit Spain and Hungarian winemakers who have previously worked at the Coonawarra vineyard.
He will also use the break to welcome his first grandchild into the world later this year, as well as running his 12 hectare vineyard at Wrattonbully and growing fruit for Penfolds Wines.
“This is a small winemaking community in South Australia and it is a really good opportunity to work with other winemakers for events such as the Limestone Coast Wine Show and the Limestone Coast Wine Council,” Mr Bissell said.
“Overall it has been a really enjoyable experience working with fellow winemakers around the region and promoting the region while also improving its economics and I will still be involved where I can.”
