‘Australia’s finest winemaker’ identified as house fire victim
SA’s wine industry is mourning the loss of one of the nation’s ‘finest’, who was found dead after a house fire in Clarendon this week.
South Australia’s wine industry is paying tribute to Peter Fraser, remembering him as a “top bloke and brilliant wine maker”.
Fraser was found dead after a house fire in Clarendon, south of Adelaide, on Thursday afternoon.
His sudden death has sent shockwaves through SA’s tight-knit wine and farming communities, with many taking to social media to pay tribute to the 51-year-old.
“We are heartbroken to share Peter Fraser, our loved, respected, and admired winemaker at Yangarra and Hickinbotham and a friend to so many across the wine community, has passed away,” Fraser’s Yangarra Estate Vineyard posted.
“For more than 25 years, Pete was the driving force behind Yangarra and was an incredible winemaker, thought leader, mentor and defining voice in the industry.
“All of us who had the privilege of working with him are devastated by this loss. He was deeply loved, and his legacy is profound.
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Former university classmate Timothy Burvill, who now is the managing director of South Australia Cattle Co, called Fraser “one of Australia’s finest winemakers”.
“We first met in 1994 at the University of Adelaide while studying winemaking, and clicked immediately,” Burvill wrote.
“After graduation, Pete and I moved in together, and both landed jobs in the Barossa Valley, with Pete starting his winemaking career at St Hallett Winery.
“From those early days, Pete’s star continued to rise. He became chief winemaker at Normans Wines before being approached in 2000 by the Jackson Family to help establish Yangarra in McLaren Vale.
“Over the next 25 years, he grew Yangarra into one of Australia’s most acclaimed wineries, with a particular focus on old vine Grenache.
“The accolades came thick and fast: Australian Winemaker of the Year in 2015, twice winning Halliday Australian Wine of the Year, and inclusion in the Drinks Business Top 100 Global Winemakers.”
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“Pete had a love of outdoor life and animals. He always had dogs and farmed everything from cattle to chickens, and everything in between.”
Other industry stalwarts shared their own tributes.
Ricca Terra winemaker Ashley Ratcliff said he was in disbelief at Fraser’s death.
“He was the greatest guy, a tough competitor and brilliant winemaker. Way too young to be gone.”
Mitolo’s Luke Mallaby said: “Very saddened and shocked to hear of the passing of an amazing winemaker, one who’s wines inspired me early on in my McLaren Vale journey, and a person I always hoped to meet and learn from one day.”
Wine writer Jane Faulkner said his death was “heartbreaking and devastating”.
“We are all poorer for losing Pete,” she wrote.
“A top bloke, brilliant winemaker and loved by so many.”
SA Police told InDaily emergency services rushed to the property on Chalk Road on Thursday afternoon, to find the home fully engulfed in flames, before they located Fraser’s body inside.
Two police officers suffered smoke inhalation and were treated in hospital for minor injuries.
Investigations are continuing, but the death is not being treated as suspicious, a police spokesperson said.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
