Celebrated Australian winemaker Simon Hackett has died following a stroke at the age of 73.
Born in the Barossa, Simon grew up next to Saltram Winery where he started his winemaking career at the age of 18, under the legendary Peter Lehmann.
He moved to McLaren Vale in 1973 and established Simon Hackett Wines in 1984.
Simon retired from winemaking in September last year after more than fifty years in the industry. The winery went into administration two months later.
Simon Hackett Wines produced up to 20,000 cases a year in the glory days with the wines being popular in the UK.
Michael Awin, managing partner of Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies in the UK said he was larger than life.
“I knew Simon for over 40 years, having first met him in 1985 through Peter and Doug Lehmann, whom we represented at the time,” Awin said.
“His laconic humour, joie de vivre and way with words made him a joy to be around.
“He was a great winemaker when he could be bothered, but it was his personality that really shone through in his wines.
“I vividly remember a prestigious tasting in London where a guest was pressing him with technical questions while the rest of the room was itching to taste.
“When asked what sort of soil he had in his vineyards, Simon paused and simply replied ‘brown’, to rapturous applause.”
Tragically, Simon’s long-term partner Deirdre died in a fire at the winery in 2009.
“Hackett was never quite the same,” says Awin, “though he always retained the spark that endeared him to so many.
“He will be fondly remembered across the UK wine trade as both a talented winemaker and a true original.”
Emanuel Skorpos from Flinders Run Winery in the Southern Flinders Ranges said in a Facebook tribute, “Life for you was never the same when you lost Deirdre.
“That zest for life, the thrill of the chase had been ripped from your heart, yet you soldiered on.
“I fondly remember sitting on your balcony when I presented Flinders Run’s next generation of wines to you.
“Quietly you swirled your glass, inspected the colour, took in the aromas… you peered over the glass with a coy expression before taking a gob full.
“Almost a minute’s pause before you responded with, ‘You nailed it, this is bloody good booze.’
“That afternoon his advice would continue to inspire me, and only a week ago he said, ‘keep up the good work my boy, you are pioneering the Southern Flinders Ranges wine region, I’m proud of you.’
“Rest in peace Simon, you will be sadly missed my friend, my mentor, my second dad.
“Your memory will remain forever eternal.”