The Australian and international wine community is mourning the loss of Yangarra Estate’s Peter Fraser – one of the nation’s most highly acclaimed winemakers.
Peter, 51, was found dead inside his Clarendon home on Thursday afternoon after emergency services attended a fire.
Police say there are no suspicious circumstances.
Yangarra said in a statement: “We are heartbroken to share Peter Fraser, our loved, respected, and admired winemaker at Yangarra and Hickinbotham and a friend to so many across the wine community, has passed away.”
“For more than 25 years, Pete was the driving force behind Yangarra and was an incredible winemaker, thought leader, mentor, and a defining voice in the industry.
“All of us who had the privilege of working with him are devastated by this loss.
“He was deeply loved, and his legacy is profound.
“Our thoughts are with his family and with the many friends whose lives he touched. We ask our community to keep his loved ones in their thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.”
Peter’s sudden death has sent shockwaves through the wine industry and the wider community.
If you are struggling with this tragedy please visit Griefline – a government funded grief and bereavement support line.
“It’s hit the wine industry hard,” says Anthony Madigan, editor of WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine.
“It’s the saddest day.
“We are all deeply shocked and saddened… it’s hard to find the words.
“Pete was an extraordinary winemaker – at the top of his game and revered by the whole industry.
“He was also just a great bloke… affable, humble and down-to-earth – and generous with his time.
“Pete will be missed.”
Just a lovely bloke
Friend of thirty years Chester Osborn led the tributes. “He was a delightful person, just a lovely bloke,” he told The Advertiser.
“He was a great winemaker. He knew his wine extremely well, he knew what to do.
“He was perfecting his style all the time and getting better and better.”
Another long-time friend Nick Stock said, “Pete made an enormous difference to McLaren Vale and the whole Australian wine story.
“He made some of the best wines Australia has produced, he went about his work with intense purpose, he led by example in a quietly heroic way.
“He was brilliant.”
Clonakilla winemaker Tim Kirk said, “This is devastating news.
“Heartbreaking. A supremely gifted winemaker and a beautiful soul.
“Love and prayers offered for Pete, his family and friends.”
In a WBM cover story written by Katie Spain in 2016 Pete said that the wine bug bit during Army Reserve training.
“We were drinking wine at the officer’s mess and being all adult,” he said.
“I eventually started collecting wine.”
Peter – the son of chicken farmers – had been the winemaker at Yangarra in McLaren Vale since 2000 when Jackson Family Wines from California bought it.
He was 20 when he attended a wine dinner hosted by Warren Randall, winemaker for Andrew Garrett Wines.
“I was a bit enamoured by his charisma,” Pete said.
“He was doing vintage and rocked in late with his rugby shorts and t-shirt covered in wine.”
Brilliant specialist
His first job in the wine industry was at Woodstock before joining St Hallett, working with the legendary Stuart Blackwell and Bob McLean. He then worked as chief winemaker at Normans Wines.
Andrew Caillard MW once said, “At Yangarra, Peter Fraser is consistently producing some of Australia’s finest Grenache and Shiraz wines.
“He is a brilliant specialist with Southern Rhône varieties and almost everything he touches is gold.”
In 2024 Jancis Robinson said, “Yangarra is a widely admired star in the Australian wine firmament.”
Yangarra is the only winery to be awarded the Halliday Wine Companion ‘Wine of the Year’ twice for the same variety – Yangarra 2021 Old Vine Grenache and Yangarra 2016 High Sands Grenache.
It was only last week that Pete hosted a vertical tasting of High Sands from 2010 to 2024.
Pete is survived by his wife Tessa and two children, Jack and Poppy.
WBM offers our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Peter Fraser.
Please leave a tribute in the comments section.
Peter Fraser was an amazing person and gifted winemaker, a Grenache champion who will be sadly and deeply missed by all.
This is devastating news.
Heartbreaking.
A supremely gifted winemaker and a beautiful soul.
Love and prayers offered for Pete, his family and friends.
Peter was a humble and wonderful man. He made my favourite Australian white wine. We were only talking on the show less than 2 weeks ago. My heart and love go out to his family. He will be missed terribly.
Words cannot express the grief felt of losing such a wonderful nephew and cousin. We are devastated. Never will you be forgotten darling Pete.💙