Lauren Hansen
NEW-WAVE WINEMAKER
Lauren Hansen is a breath of fresh air in the historic Coonawarra wine region, pushing the boundaries as she helps to lead a new generation of creative winemakers.
After graduating as dux of her viticulture and oenology degree, Lauren set off to gain hands-on experience, working in wine regions in South Australia, Victoria, New Zealand and Austria. In 2015 she found herself in Coonawarra, back on the Limestone Coast where she’d grown up, first at Balnaves of Coonawarra and then at Penley Estate a few years later. With her labrador Morrie by her side, she’s crafting experimental drops that represent a new era for the winery.
Forging new paths
As a youngster, Lauren thought she might want to be a physiotherapist until she did two days of work experience and hated it. Soon after she spent two days in a winery and knew she’d found her calling.
“Two days and that was enough,” says Lauren. “They had me doing the most terrible jobs possible, but I loved it.”
At Penley Estate, owned by sisters Ang and Bec Tolley, she’s been part of a recent transformation – a “breath of fresh air” as the sisters described it. Experimentation has been key.
Working closely with chief winemaker Kate Goodman, and taking care of the day-to-day winemaking duties, Lauren has been trialling new approaches with small batches of wine.
“Experimenting with small batches is a way to push the boundaries without too much of a risk, but still see what we can do with the beautiful fruit that we have here,” she says.
One experiment involves using whole-bunch fermentation – a rustic, old-school technique where the grape stems are left in with the berries to ferment, adding a unique flavour and texture.
“There’s not a lot of people in Coonawarra, as far as I’m aware, that are pushing the boundaries quite that much, so to be part of a winery that’s willing to try something outside of the box is pretty awesome,” says Lauren.
Her winemaking philosophy is all about showcasing the vineyard.
“The vineyard team work so hard to create these beautiful grapes, and realistically, at the base level, winemaking is just about not stuffing it up,” she says. “I’d like my legacy to be a wine that truly reflects where it comes from. That speaks of place more than of the influence I’ve had on it.”
“Experimenting with small batches is a way to push the boundaries without too much of a risk, but still see what we can do with the beautiful fruit that we have here.” – Lauren Hansen
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