Light Pass winemaker's success story

MICHELLE O'RIELLY
21 Sep, 2010 01:43 PM

Chat with Peter Scholz and he’ll tell you the stars have aligned for the first time in six generations.

While his ancestors, who settled in Light Pass in 1845, used their hands to heal others and offer natural remedies, it was his wine skills and patience, which created history on Thursday night.

The winemaker was presented with six trophies at the annual Barossa Wine Show held at Chateau Tanunda.

This is the highest achievement made by any small producer in the show in recent years.

It was the 2010 The Willows Vineyard Riesling, a valley floor grown wine, which knocked out strong opponents from Eden Valley.

This wine scooped four trophies of best Riesling - current vintage, most outstanding white table wine, most outstanding single vineyard table wine and most outstanding table wine - small producer.

Peter, a distinguished Semillon maker, also secured a trophy for best dry white for his 2006 Semillon.

And also the highly sought after accolade - most outstanding Barossa table wine.

For Peter, he believes Eden Valley is “the pinnacle for producing Rieslings. They are absolutely amazing”.

“Having said that, I guess the Barossa certainly has the ability to produce this wine well on the valley floor,” he added.

St Halletts’ 2005 Eden Valley Riesling was the only other Riesling to receive a trophy.

“These wines are a testament that we are mixing it with the best.”

Peter said he is particular about how he treats his Riesling grapes.

“We pick at night and are extremely careful with the wine.

“It’s free-run juice, that’s pristine, crisp, clean zesty and real.”

Peter has been working on his Riesling for the past four to five vintages.

In that time he never thought about entering the wine into the Barossa Wine Show until people thought the grapes came from Eden Valley.

As for his 2006 Semillon, it could easily be described as ageless beauty.

“The vineyard was planted in 1936 and produces concentrated and consistent flavours.

“It’s still youthful with people surprised how youthful it really is,” he explained.

http://www.barossaherald.com.au/news/loc...ry/1947688.aspx