Andrew Pike
LAUNCHING A NEW ERA
He’s the viticulturist behind one of Australia’s most popular Rieslings, produced for almost 40 years. But Andrew Pike is also trialling new varieties and pursuing fresh ideas.
Clare Valley is famous the world over for its Riesling, and Pikes is at the forefront. Andrew and his brother Neil founded the label in the 1980s, and now, as Neil retires from the business, Andrew is ushering in a new era. Riesling is only part of the story – the vigneron is exploring alternative varieties and looking for creative new ways to take Pikes into the future.
Forging alternative paths
Drawn into the wine world by his father, a vineyard manager, Andrew studied agriculture and worked in renowned vineyards, including Wynns Coonawarra Estate and Penfolds. He’d moved from Coonawarra to the Clare Valley for the Penfolds job and quickly saw the potential of this diverse, hilly region.
Soon after – it was the early 1980s – Andrew and his winemaker brother Neil started their own label. Pikes grew steadily and today it’s a multi-award-winning winery with its wines poured all over the world. Andrew grows more than 20 grape varieties.
The star of the show is undoubtedly Riesling, particularly the ‘Traditionale’ Riesling, which Pikes has produced for 36 vintages in a row. It’s been a top seller for almost a decade, thanks to Andrew’s care in the vineyard and a gentle, low-intervention approach in the winery.
He’s the viticulturist behind one of Australia’s most popular Rieslings, produced for almost 40 years. But Andrew Pike is also trialling new varieties and pursuing fresh ideas.
“We try and do things as simply as we can, but really do home in on the little things,” says Andrew. “It’s the attention to detail that makes a difference.”
But Riesling is only part of the picture – Pikes is also known for its red wines and alternative varieties.
“There are lots of new and interesting varieties starting to emerge,” says Andrew. “We’re really quite excited about the white variety Fiano. The 2019 Fiano is just an absolute cracker. It's so fresh and crisp… That sold out in the blink of an eye.”
Change is in the air, as Andrew leads Pikes into its next phase. His brother Neil has recently left the business and Andrew’s two sons, Jamie and Alister are now involved.
“I think we could be more creative and it’s certainly an agenda I’m going to be pushing hard in the next few years,” says Andrew. “At the end of the day, I believe that if you’re not growing, you’re going backwards.”
“Creativity is an agenda I’m going to be pushing. I believe that if you’re not growing, you’re going backwards.” – Andrew Pike
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