On the third Monday of November, I joked with my friend Pete Fraser, the winemaker behind Yangarra, that he owed me a lifelong gratitude for my three-hour journey to taste 15 vintages of his High Sands Grenache. Little did I know that just ten days later, he would be gone. That tasting turned out to be profoundly significant, showcasing not only the exquisite flavors of his wines but also the deep connection between the land and Parker, the winemaker.
Yangarra was established in the early 2000s when Jess Jackson bought a struggling McLaren Vale vineyard. With Pete at the helm, he, along with viticulturist Michael Lane, focused on enhancing the property’s plantings and refining the wines. At the pinnacle of Yangarra lies an 18ha parcel of bush-vine Grenache, planted in 1946, with unique soils that contribute to the distinct character of the wines produced.
Time spent in the vineyard with Pete highlighted his ardent curiosity and admiration for the vines. These delicate plants, precariously anchored in the sandy soil, were the foundation of his acclaimed High Sands Grenache. Throughout his career, Pete learned to listen to these vines, beginning to vinify them separately in 2005. As his understanding deepened, so did the quality of his wines, with the 2010 vintage marking a notable turning point in his winemaking journey.
High Sands has earned its reputation as one of the most significant Grenache sites globally, with standout vintages in 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Each wine demonstrated the variety’s capacity to enchant through fragrance while providing satisfying structure.
The drive home from our last tasting prompted calls to friends, sharing the significance of what I had experienced. As I reflected on that Monday, I found it challenging to reconcile the joy of our time together with the tragic news that followed. Pete’s departure was a tumultuous affair, leaving many unable to comprehend the man behind the winemaker, leading to a media frenzy that overshadowed the complexity of his life.
In grappling with the loss of my friend, I wish to remember the essence of who Pete truly was. He had an infectious smile and a quirky charm, always keenly aware of the unspoken pain in others. He used his talents to create remarkable wines and build connections with those around him. Ultimately, he made beautiful wines, and his memory lives on in the richness he brought to our lives and the vineyards he cherished. I miss him deeply.