Cover Veteran winemaker Sue Hodder
Veteran winemaker Sue Hodder
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Sue Hodder, the woman behind Wynns Coonawarra Estate’s pours, on their 2023 collection and sustainable winemaking practices to ensure the future generations will be able to enjoy their wines
In the Coonawarra wine region—located in South Australia—lies famed wine producer Wynns Coonawarra Estate, best known for making medium-bodied reds such as cabernet sauvignon and shiraz that have captured the palates of imbibers across the globe. Behind these pours is senior winemaker Sue Hodder, who has been producing world-class wines for the past 30 years, alongside fellow winemaker Sarah Pidgeon.
With a degree in agriculture, Hodder’s wine philosophy is anchored by her deep respect for the land. “We make wines that express the best of our vineyards,” she shared with Tatler Dining on her recent trip to Singapore last year to launch the 2023 Wynnsday Collection. This includes the Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 and Black Label Old Vines Shiraz 2021—the heroes in the collection, which have already received praise from critics and imbibers alike.
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Above Wynns Coonawarra 2021 vintages
Wynns Coonawarra 2021 vintages
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Hodder added that the region is blessed to be in close proximity to the southern ocean, as it “cools down the region” and keeps the acid in the grapes. Moreover, the 500-hectare estate sits in rich, red terra rossa soil layered with clay and limestone, where the vines have been flourishing for more than 100 years. “Our cool climate and terra rossa soil allows us to make medium-bodied wines.”
The Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, for example, is redolent of black and red cherries interwoven chocolate, almond and honeycomb notes, while the Black Label Old Vines Shiraz 2021 boasts black pepper characters and just a hint of spiced pastry notes. “The medium-bodied wines make for ideal accompaniments to a range of cuisines, as they serve to complement the food instead of overpowering them,” expressed Hodder.
With the threat of climate change to winemaking, sustainable practices have guided Hodder’s winemaking practices since she joined in 1993. “Sustainability is all about making improvements,” she quipped. Working with her friend Allen Jenkins, a renowned viticulturist who has been talking about climate change since the 80s, they rejuvenated old vines to produce grapes of better quality, and reconstructed the old vineyards to ensure their longevity.
Above The estate’s vineyards where vines have been flourishing for over 100 years
The estate’s vineyards where vines have been flourishing for over 100 years
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“We are a certified sustainable winery, and we were one of the first Australian wines to put that on our label,” shared Hodder, who elaborated on other sustainable practices such as the use of solar panels in running the winery and recycling wastewater. These, she quipped, are innovations that have been put in practice for many years to ensure that future generations will still be able to drink and enjoy their wines.
Credits
Images: Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Dudi Aureus is the senior dining and travel editor at Tatler Singapore, covering the city’s most exciting restaurants, global travel trends, and the personalities shaping the culinary and lifestyle scenes. She also serves as co-jury chair for the Tatler Best awards in Singapore, celebrating the very best in hospitality. When she’s off duty, she can often be found at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai spot, savouring a perfectly balanced pad thai.
