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Peter Fraser
WINEMAKER AND GENERAL MANAGER
2000–2025
Peter Fraser was the winemaker and driving force behind Yangarra Estate Vineyard for more than 25 years. His passing in late 2025 left a profound loss felt across Yangarra, the wider wine community, and the many lives he touched.
“At Yangarra, Peter Fraser is consistently producing some of Australia’s finest Grenache and Shiraz wines. He is a brilliant specialist with Southern Rhône varieties and almost everything he touches is gold."
— Andrew Caillard, MW
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A scholar of the Len Evans Tutorial and respected judge and panel chair at wine shows across Australia, Peter was recognised as Winemaker of the Year by the Halliday Wine Companion in 2015 and was listed among the Drinks Business Top 100 Global Winemakers in 2025. Under his leadership, Yangarra became the only winery to receive the Halliday Wine Companion Wine of the Year award twice for the same variety — for the 2016 High Sands Grenache and the 2021 Old Vine Grenache.
Peter's winemaking philosophy was grounded on three pillars: relentless attention to detail, a commitment to gentle and sensitive practices, and innovative techniques that culminated in wines expressing a distinctive purity. His near obsession with the expression of place and variety drove meticulous farming in the vineyard and constant innovation in the winery — always guided by his philosophy of "Always a little further."
Peter believed Yangarra's success stemmed from its remarkable land and the passion of a talented and dedicated team. That belief lives on in every wine we make.
His legacy is woven into the vines, the soil and the spirit of this place — and it will continue to shape everything that comes from Yangarra Estate for years to come.
Our Team
It takes many hands and brilliant minds to craft and share our wines. At Yangarra, we are fortunate to work alongside a dedicated and talented team who bring expertise, passion and care to everything they do — from the vineyard and the winery, to the cellar door and beyond.
Together, we are proud to steward this special piece of country and share it with the world.
Yangarra Alumni
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Michael Lane
VINEYARD MANAGER
2000-2025
“These techniques give our wines a better chance to reflect their particular sites. They are more individual and more expressive of their location”
— Michael Lane, VM
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Michael was the vineyard manager at Yangarra from 2000 up until 2025. With a background in horticulture, he played a key role in transitioning Yangarra from sustainable to organic and biodynamic farming practices beginning in 2008. Through this work, he contributed to improving soil health, enhancing wine quality, and strengthening the connection between the wines and the land.
As a respected leader in McLaren Vale’s viticulture community, Michael is a member of the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Advisory Group, previously the chair of the McLaren Vale Crop Watch Committee, and former chair of the McLaren Vale Growers Development Group.
