Louis Latour Agencies

Introducing Julian Grounds – New Senior Winemaker at McHenry Hohnen

10 February 2017

We’re delighted to announce there is a new Senior Winemaker at McHenry Hohnen. Julian Grounds has made his return to Margaret River after seven years away. We asked him a few questions to help get to know him.

 

How did you first get into the wine business and what drew you to it?

"Coming from a farming family, and growing up in a small coastal community surrounded by vineyards, I was fascinated by the multi-faceted elements of winemaking; the connection of farming, to chemistry, to understanding flavours. And upon finishing school, went to study at University."

 

Can you tell us more about how you see the role of a winemaker?

"Ultimately a winemaker is responsible for ensuring that the potential that was sitting on the vine, is expressed in the bottle; that people enjoy an expression of a particular site."

 

Do you have personal favourite amongst all the wines at McHenry Hohnen?

"Hazel’s Vineyard Chardonnay. The site is such an amazing mix of bright, rich soil, influenced by two oceans. Perhaps one of the only site’s like this in Australia."

N.B. Rocky Road Single Vineyard has been renamed Hazel's Vineyard

 

Who is your greatest influence in winemaking?

"Steve Flamsteed (Chief Winemaker and Director at Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley) taught me so much about flavour, and always encouraged me to look at things from a different perspective."

 

Is there anything you’d like to change in the world of wine and why?

"I want to get consumers more involved in what we do. The brewing, cooking and coffee industry have been able to connect exceptionally well to consumers through inviting them into their world, and we as an industry need to do more of the same. I’d also love to see more importance placed on the sustainability of our vineyards. Ultimately we need to leave the land in as good as of condition, if not better, as how we found it."

 

If you were a wine producer in the Old World which country/region would you pick and why?

"Probably the Basque region of Spain/France. A beautiful area, with a unique food/wine culture, of which you can taste the oceanic influence in the wines."

 

If you weren’t involved in the wine industry, where would you be working?

"I’d have my single table restaurant on my farm, which would be open only on Saturday’s, and all would be encouraged to help in the cooking."

 

We'll have more information coming via twitter @LouisLatourUK and for more information please see the latest news on the McHenry Hohnen site.

 

image: Burnside Vineyard