Adam Eggins, Chief Winemaker

 

Adam Eggins, hails originally from Southport in Queensland. Adam's love affair with wine began on moving to Oberon in NSW, close to the historic winemaking region of the Hunter Valley, where his father’s love of the region’s famous Semillon and other styles ignited Adam’s own passion.

 

Adam went on to study winemaking at Roseworthy in South Australia, whilst gaining vintage experience at Seppelts Great Western in Victoria and Eaglehawk in the Clare. He graduated as the Dux student in the class of 1991. On graduating Adam joined Heemskerk/Louis Roederer, Pipers Brook Tasmania, where he gained valuable experience producing vintage sparkling for Roederer Estate, California.

 

 

Adam then went on to become Assistant Winemaker of Yellowglen Wines in Ballarat Victoria, then Winemaker and in 1995 he took up the position of Group Sparkling Winemaker, Mildara Blass Ltd. Barossa before joining Rothbury Estate in the Hunter Valley as Winemaker / Manager.  Adam was approached by Taylors in 1999 to become Senior Winemaker in South Australia’s Clare Valley. His first vintage with Taylors was the 2000 vintage which turned out to be tough year due to drought conditions. Bill Taylor described the challenges: “Yields were down significantly and we processed around 2,500 tonne but it should have been a lot more. The small vintage was a benefit for Adam’s first year so that he could settle in and focus on quality”.

 

Thankfully the 2001 vintage was a great vintage, and Adam was responsible for producing some exceptional wines including, not least the 2001 St Andrews Riesling and the 2001 St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon which went on to collect trophies for Best New World Riesling at the 2007 International Riesling Challenge in Germany and Best Single Estate and Best Cabernet Sauvignon at the 2006 International Wine Challenge, respectively .

 

In November 2006 Adam himself was directly on the receiving end of an accolade, awarded the Winestate Magazine Australian Winemaker of the Year, and was again a finalist in 2007.

Helen McCarthy, Senior Winemaker

 

 

Born in England, Helen moved to Australia in 1988 - an essential move for her career as her passion for wine was ignited by a phone call from Paris (from Tony Spawton - Associate Professor of Wine marketing at Uni SA). On her 18th birthday, she enrolled in a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) at the University of Adelaide, and never looked back. 

 

On completion of the respected degree with first class honours in 2000, Helen worked with Southcorp Wines on a number of premium wine brands before joining the Taylors winemaking team in 2002.  Helen quickly became an important and valued member of the Taylors senior winemaking team. She has been involved in all aspects of production and development across the portfolio, and now with her own team, responsible for a number of ranges including the award-winning cross-regional Jaraman, Taylors Estate and Promised Land labels.

 

Helen too has enjoyed considerable recognition for her skills since working with Taylors. In 2006, respected UK author and writer, Matthew Jukes recognised her in his Future of the Wine Industry speech as one of the top young Australian winemakers to watch out for. In 2007 & 2008 she was named as a finalist for the Wine Society Young Winemaker of the Year award, and in 2008 was awarded the Kemeny’s Medal by Australian Gourmet Traveller for Australia’s most outstanding up-and-coming winemaker.  The Kemeny’s Medal is one of only three major prizes that make up the annual Gourmet Traveller Wine awards and have crowned many of Australia’s finest established and up and coming winemakers.

 

Helen was offered one of just 12 fully paid scholarships to take part in the 2008 Len Evans Tutorial. The tutorial is designed to define the demands of show judging by exposing the scholars to the great wine styles of the world. James Halliday has described the Len Evans Tutorial as “the most exclusive wine school in the world”.

 

Having completed an AWRI Advanced Sensory Course, Helen is also growing her profile as an experienced wine judge. She has participated in both regional and national shows as firstly an associate judge and more recently as a judge. In 2008 she has judged at Perth Royal Wine Show, the Australian Small Winemakers Show and Royal Hobart wine show.