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 passed away at home in Clarendon on Thursday afternoon.
His death has sent shockwaves through the wine industry and the wider community.
“It’s hit the industry hard,” says Anthony Madigan, editor of WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine.
“We are all deeply saddened and in shock. It’s hard to find the words.
“Pete was an extraordinary winemaker – at the top of his game.
“He was also down-to-earth and humble – and generous with his time.
“Pete will be missed.”
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.”
His first job in the wine industry was at St Hallett in the Barossa and he became 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.
The flagship Yangarra wine is the High Sands Grenache ($300).
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.
Feel free to leave a tribute in the comments section.
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