Educated at the University of Adelaide, where he was later Deputy Chancellor for eight years, and at the University of California at Davis, Brian was involved in establishing the Charles Sturt Wine Science degree in Wagga Wagga as well as many of the major Australian wine industry institutions through the 1970s and ‘80s.
Brian and Ann Croser began Petaluma in 1976 and set about exactingly matching varieties to regions and meticulously managing for 27 years the vines in Petaluma’s “Distinguished Site” vineyards in Clare, the Adelaide Hills and at Coonawarra.
Considered one of Australia’s leading exponents of terroir-driven wines, he pioneered the development of the Adelaide Hills viticultural region, planting Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and establishing the Petaluma winery in the Piccadilly Valley from 1978. This was followed by Shiraz and Viognier at Mt Barker from the early ’90s.
In the mid 1980’s the purchase and renovation of the historic Bridgewater Mill provided a home for “Croser”, the eponymous premium sparkling wine made from fruit from the Piccadilly Valley, first released in 1987.
During that period, he also established, with Rollin Soles, Argyle winery in Oregon in 1985, then later the Tunkalilla Vineyard, a Riesling and Pinot Noir vineyard in the Eola Hills just north of Salem in Oregon.
He has been the President of the Winemakers Federation of Australia, a founding board member of Wine Australia, the Chairman of Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra (The National) and Perth wine shows and has received numerous awards for service to the Australian wine industry including the prestigious Maurice O’Shea award, an Honorary Doctorate from Charles Sturt University and a Doctor of the University of Adelaide in July of 2007.
In 2004 Brian was named “Man of the Year” by Decanter magazine. He also has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contribution to research and education and for service to the Australian wine industry.
Brian loves to write, informed by his passion for his profession and is often published in leading global wine publications.
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Jancis Robinson
Date: Nov 2013
This essay also appears on Jancis Robinson’s site at: http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201311012.html
Barring global financial accidents, geopolitical upheaval or an asteroid strike, 2014 should be a good business year propelled by the gathering momentum of the US economy, which should also tame our dollar. Fine wine is at the forefront of consumption growth and the US has a structural deficiency of grape supply.
Author: Eli Greenblat
Source: The Age
Date: Oct 2013
The following article by Eli Greenblat comes from The Age, 7/10/2013
Australian wine-making legend Brian Croser, founder of Petaluma, has attracted the big guns of champagne to his latest wine venture, with the scion of France’s famous Bollinger champagne house joining the board of his privately owned Tapanappa Wines.
Etienne Bizot,
Author: Patrick Schmitt
Source: Drinks Business
Date: Sep 2013
The following article by Patrick Schmitt appeared on Drinks Business, 20th September 2013.
Australia should shift its emphasis from the personalities behind the wines to the places where they come from in a bid to further the country’s fine wine reputation.
That’s the view of Frenchman Xavier Bizot, who is general manager of Australia’s Tapanappa,
» Read more about: Emphasis on winemaker too strong in OZ’ »
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Tapanappa
Date: Jun 2013
Foggy Hill was planted in 2003.
The 2013 vintage just finished was a wonderful way to celebrate the 10th birthday of this unique and lonely vineyard. Dry and warm by virtue of warmer than average nights, the compete description of the great 2013 vintage is on Tapanappa’s web site here: http://www.tapanappawines.com.au/blog/may2013/2013-vintage-report.
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Tapanappa
Date: May 2013
2013 was a very warm and dry vintage.
2013 was also a wonderful vintage.
Despite near record warmth at all three of the Tapanappa terroirs, there were very few days above 35°C, no extended heat waves and it was night warmth that contributed to the elevated heat summations.
Night warmth is good.
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Tapanappa
Date: Feb 2013
The following seminar was presented in London as part of a look at Chilean Cabernet.
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
This Global Exploration is a celebration of the great quality and diversity of the noble Cabernet Sauvignon.
It is also recognition of the importance of this variety to the Chile where it has flourished on its own roots for more than 160 years.
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Tapanappa
Date: Oct 2012
While not specifically Tapanappa news, it is nonethless very pleasing to see Brian’s lifelong commitment to Riesling honored by the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, awarding him the 2012 Wolf Blass Award for his contribution to the development and promotion of Riesling.
Brian unfortunately wasn’t able to be present to receive the award, but with good and topical excuse,
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Tapanappa
Date: May 2012
Two blogs in a day!
Not quite, as the previous one had been under preparation for some time.
Having hailed the 2012 vintage in the great tradition of Murray Tyrrell (renowned for announcing the vintage of the century every year), I feel compelled to defend vintage 2010.
The statistics of heat summation and summer rain for vintage 2010 reveal it as one of,
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Tapanappa
Date: May 2012
It’s been along time between posts.
The last post was “The Big Stretch”, the paper I wrote on Chile for a seminar on South American wines in London in January.
Since then the 2012 vintage has ripened beautifully, was carefully harvested and is in barriques slowly going through malo-lactic fermentation as winter approaches.
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Tapanappa
Date: Feb 2012
The following paper was recently given by Brian at the inaugural South American Wine Workshop in London.
“THE BIG STRETCH”
THE EMERGING CHILEAN FINE WINE INDUSTRY
INTRODUCTION
I am not an expert on the Chilean wine industry and even less so on the Argentinean wine industry.
Andres Ilabaca and the team from Vina Santa Rita can put their vineyards and wines into context better than I can and Edgardo del Popolo is a leader of the Argentinean wine industry,
» Read more about: The Big Stretch – The Emerging Chilean Fine WIne Industry »
Author: Jancis Robinson
Source: Jancis Robinson
Date: Feb 2012
The following article is taken from Jancis Robinson’s website: http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201202131.html
US shortfall may solve OZ surplus by Jancis Robinson, 13 Feb 2012
La Niña and the succession of cool, rainy summers it has inflicted on much of south-east Australia may be making life extremely difficult for grape growers who in 2011 and 2012 are having to combat unusual conditions in the vineyard.
Author: Brian Croser
Source: Tapanappa
Date: Nov 2011
On Monday night (the 21st) in the multi-faceted Leonard French Grand Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria we were treated to a tasting of international Pinot Noirs reflecting and refracting the spectrum of hues, aromas, flavours and palate architecture of this fascinating grape variety.
The 12th Stonier International Pinot Noir Tasting (SIPNOT) was also reflective of the ongoing passion of Brian Stonier AO.,
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