Stuart Bourne from Soul Growers has been named as the 2020 Barossa Winemaker of the Year, at the annual Declaration of Vintage held in Tanunda yesterday.
The award, which is presented by Barons of Barossa, recognises “a winemaker who has made a significant contribution to the industry, producing wines that exhibit the regionality of Barossa grapes, and generously shares their knowledge with others”.
Barons’ newly elected Grand Master, and a former recipient of the award, Louisa Rose described Bourne as “one of the great characters of the Barossa”.
“He is a long-term thinker, always putting the region front and centre,” Rose said. “Since he arrived, he has embraced everything Barossa, with strong, positive contributions to the wine industry and to the greater Barossa community.”
Bourne hails from a grape growing family in the Clare Valley and after earning a BSc in Pharmacology, Anatomy and Histology at Adelaide University, he stayed on to complete an additional degree in Agricultural Science in Oenology.
After gaining extensive experience in wine regions across Australia, Bourne returned to the Barossa Valley in 2001, and in accepting his award, he said “Some people say that gold medals make a winemaker, but to be recognised by your peers as Barossa Winemaker of the Year in Australia’s best wine region is truly the greatest accolade a Barossa winemaker can achieve.”
Managing Director of Soul Growers, Paul Heinicke was delighted for Bourne, saying: “Stuart is a true, genuine ambassador for the Barossa. He works tirelessly to promote the region, and his passion is infectious. He is a very worthy recipient of this award.”