G.H. Mumm has announced the appointment of award-winning winemaker Trina Smith as Mumm Terroirs Pacific Winemaker, overseeing all winemaking for the Champagne house’s portfolio across Australia and New Zealand.
Known for her award-winning sparkling, white and rosé wines, Smith is recognised as one of Australia’s leading sparkling specialists, receiving multiple international and local accolades.
Excited to take on the roll Smith said her focus is continue making quality wines with a strong sense of terroir.
“I’m thrilled to step into this role and continue building on Mumm’s legacy in Australasia. My focus will be on crafting wines that truly express the character of our region. Marlborough, Central Otago and Tasmania are world-renowned cool-climate regions, producing sparkling wines of exceptional finesse, energy and character and I look forward to shining an international light on our sparkling wines,” she said.
The Mumm Terroirs collection includes Mumm Marlborough Prestige Brut, Mumm Marlborough Brut rosé, Mumm Central Otago Blanc de Noirs and Mumm Tasmania Prestige Brut.
While Smith will continue to be based in the Barossa Valley working closely with G.H. Mumm’s Chef de Cave and local grape growers across Australia, she will make the New Zealand wines in Marlborough.
Bringing to the role over two decades of experience in winemaking, Smith originally studied finance and found her passion for wine during a university wine appreciation course, which led her to complete a degree in Oenology at the University of Adelaide.
Smith honed her craft through vintages in California, South Africa and Italy, before returning to Australia to work with Brown Brothers, where she discovered her love of sparkling wine.
She went onto senior roles at Treasury Wine Estates and later Pernod Ricard Winemakers as Group White and Sparkling Winemaker, overseeing acclaimed labels including St Hugo and Jacob’s Creek
In 2022, she led the inaugural Mumm Terroirs winemaking team to launch the Mumm Tasmania Prestige Brut which became a runaway success that showcased Tasmania’s cool-climate terroir and Pinot Noir – a cornerstone of Maison Mumm’s 200-year history.
This announcement underscores both Smith and Tasmania earning recognition as sparkling wine leaders, with sparkling now accounting for more than 40 per cent of Tasmania’s total wine production – a five per cent increase from last year.