Greg Jarratt
EXPANDING HORIZONS
An obsession with chemistry led Greg Jarratt down the winemaking path, but he soon discovered that wine is about much more than science.
As Chief Winemaker at St Huberts in the Yarra Valley wine region, Greg crafts a wide range of acclaimed wines, from traditional method sparkling to aromatic Roussanne – a variety native to France’s Rhône Valley – and age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. He also experiments with less common varieties, like Tempranillo. Inspired by his early-career experience in Bordeaux, Greg takes a pared-back, hands-on approach in the winery to produce elegant wines with a touch of rustic deliciousness.
The art and alchemy of winemaking
Greg was the kid who pulls things apart and then tries to put them back together again. He’s got a scientific mind and he’s good with his hands – jewellery making and carpentry are two of his hobbies – so a career in winemaking made perfect sense.
After graduating with a degree in wine science in the early 1990s, Greg learned the ropes in wineries around Australia and in France, where he was exposed to different methods such as biodynamic viticulture and making wine less by recipe and more by instinct. Having arrived with a very scientific perspective, Greg discovered that wine was also about creativity, adaptability and “alchemy”.
“I was originally drawn to the industry through science and then it doesn’t take long before you work out that it’s not about science, it’s about having a feel for things,” says Greg. “You need to adapt, because things can change overnight.
“[In France] there were things I thought at the time, with my science background, were sort of hocus-pocus, but then over the years … I realised, well, they’re onto something.”
In 2006, Greg joined St Huberts, which was founded in the 1860s then reborn a century later, becoming an important player in establishing the Yarra Valley as a premier modern-day wine region.
Over several decades in the industry, Greg has witnessed the Australian wine community evolve.
“We’re all in it together to make this industry better,” he says. “We’re really showing the world that we do make some of the best wines in the world … There’s a lot of class and style and restraint and elegance.
“Making wine is very rewarding … As my legacy, I’d love to have wines that are still in people’s cellars in decades to come and they’re still bringing terrific enjoyment.”
“We’re really showing the world that Australia does make some of the best wines in the world.” – Greg Jarratt
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