After
growing up & working in her family vineyards in McLaren Vale, having a
father in the industry, and working in various cellar doors in the area, it was
a natural progression for Corrina to develop a passion for winemaking. Corrina
enrolled in a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Oenology) in 1993 and in1997,
Corrina was granted a Scholarship from Southcorp Wines & Adelaide
University to study for a year at the University of California- Davis. Corrina
then returned to Australia to work for Southcorp Wines on their Winemaking
Graduate Program. Even during her work with Southcorp, Corrina had also been
making Oliver's Taranga Wines at local contract wineries. She graduated from
the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial in 2005, and continues to judge at numerous
wine shows around Australia. Corrina also serves on the Boards of the McLaren
Vale Grape, Wine & Tourism Association, the Australian Society of Viticulture
and Oenolgy, and her commitment to the wine industry in Australia was rewarded
with a position on the inaugural 'Future Leaders- Succession for the Australian
Wine Industry' program in 2006. Corrina
is now working full-time for her family wine business, Oliver's Taranga, as
Winemaker and Director. Corrina is proud to be part of the 6th
generation of Oliver's on the same property, and hopes that her forefathers are
proud of the wines that Oliver's Taranga are producing. Corrina works closely
with her uncle, Don Oliver, ensuring the grapes are selected from the right
blocks and are picked at optimum maturity. The wines that Corrina aims to make
are all about expressing the wonderful fruit that the vineyard produces, and
her passion for wine, winemaking, and the Oliver's vineyard is insatiable.
What was the turning point that made working with wine the right choice for you?
Travelling o/s and realising that:
-
I was pretty lucky to have such a long family
connection with wine & vines,
-
I didn't want to wear a suit every day to work and live
in a city (my original plan was to be a lawyer),
-
I had learnt more than most people get to know in a
lifetime about wine & vines just by osmosis and because it is in my blood,
-
McLaren Vale is a pretty special place to live.
Worst Job in the winery?
When I worked for Lindemans at Karadoc, I had a period of
time making West Coast Cooler. Working with the pineapple essence & tasting
the blends was challenging. Now, the worst job is sweeping/scooping up
millipedes that block our drains.
Most untrusted grape variety? Why?
Ruby Cabernet- never gives you anything decent and always
smells like almond kernels and I don't like that smell. Any non-Vinifera
variety makes me have cold shivers when I smell it- foxy & horrid.
Wine you wish you had more of in your cellar?
Vintage Salon
Wine you've always wanted to try but still haven't?
Some of the classic DRC vintages. I have only had the
pleasure of drinking DRC at the Len Evans Tutorial or when someone else decides
to be very generous & share.
If you could make an experimental wine, what grape would you use and what stye of wine would it be?
At the moment I am experimenting with Sagrantino- a red
grape variety from Montefalco in Umbria. It has great colour, natural acidity
and very challenging intense tannins, so it is a very interesting learning
curve. Pretty excited about the possibilities though.
If you weren't a winemaker what would you be?
Probably a lawyer, but I would still own a vineyard as a
sideline.
Wine region you'd most like to visit?
Champagne- for the food, the Champagne and the culture. Or
Montefalco, in Umbria to have a look at the Sagrantino grown there, learn from
the locals, immerse myself in Italian culture and learn Italian.
What was the last wine you had a bottle of?
I am pregnant at the moment, so I have been enjoying some
very ice cold 2009 Wirra Wirra Mrs.Wigley Moscato!
Worst mistake you've made at work?
Probably writing off two blocks of Shiraz last year for the
Oliver's wines, because they looked like they had suffered with the heat too
much, even though there was awesome intensity of flavour in the good bunches. Only
to handpick it selectively and send it all to Penfolds, with it all ending up
in the 2009 Grange blend!
© Benand