Julian Langworthy
On top of the world
Deftly switching between traditional wines and left-of-field drops, with an unwavering passion for his craft, winemaker Julian Langworthy is at the top of his game.
Success and acclaim haven’t diminished Julian’s ambition, who brings joy and curiosity to everything he does. At Margaret River’s renowned Deep Woods Estate, he’s striving to produce the world’s best Cabernet. In his spare time he’s creating off-beat wines under an experimental label. Every year is an opportunity to start fresh, explore untested techniques and create something new and exciting.
The joy of wine
Growing up in Western Australia’s pristine Margaret River, with a father who studied pests in vineyards for the Agricultural Protection Board, Julian was fascinated by wine from a young age. After a brief dalliance with marine biology, he studied winemaking (“It seemed like it’d be fairer on the fish,” he jokes), then worked in France and Canada as well as Australia’s Clare Valley, Barossa Valley and Coonawarra regions.
In 2011, Julian returned to his hometown to join the Fogarty Wine Group. As Chief Winemaker he’s responsible for the Group’s five brands and a team of 12 winemakers, with a special focus on Deep Woods Estate, one of the region’s most awarded wineries. Cabernet Sauvignon is the crown jewel – and Julian’s favourite variety.
“My life in wine has been a life in Cabernet,” he says. “What I really want to achieve is to make the world’s best Cabernet, and in Margaret River I’m 100% certain that we can do that.”
A steady stream of awards suggests he’s well on his way. In his first four vintages at Deep Woods Estate, Julian won more than 50 gold medals, and more recently was named James Halliday’s 2019 Winemaker of the Year.
His successes haven’t taken away his excitement for winemaking and drive to keep exploring and improving.
“Every season is different and every season you’ve got a new opportunity to make the best wine you could ever make,” says Julian. “That’s probably one of the great joys of winemaking.”
In 2016, Julian co-launched Good Tycoons, an experimental side project created with Deep Woods Estate’s viticulturist, John Fogarty, and John’s brother Mark. They showcase different varieties through small-batch wines including a wild, unfiltered Riesling and a Teroldego, a rare red variety from Northern Italy.
“Wine’s pretty much the fabric of life for me,” says Julian. “It brings people together.”
“Every season is different and every season you’ve got a new opportunity to make the best wine you can. That’s one of the great joys of winemaking.” – Julian Langworthy
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