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Deakin Estate winemaker Frank Newman chalks up 50 vintages

By Tuesday 22 January 2019No Comments

VINTAGE 2019

Today marks both the first day of vintage for Deakin Estate and winemaker Frank Newman’s 50th vintage.

As Frank crushed Murray Darling Chardonnay for sparkling wine base today, he’s remembering his first vintage at Penfolds Magill back in January 1969.

“My first vintage was crushing Riverland Sultana,” he says.

“I had to fork it off the semi into an old (even then) Whitehill beater crusher.

“Boy was I fit by the end of that vintage.”

Frank went on to become senior white, then red winemaker at Penfolds, working alongside Max Schubert in the creation of Grange. Frank was then chief winemaker and production manager at Angoves for more than a decade and also made wine for BRL Hardy’s Renmano.

He joined Deakin Estate in 2014 after decades of rich winemaking experience.

“My aim is always perfection and my football team’s motto is something that has been the driving influence over my years as a winemaker. ‘Nil satis nisi optimum‘ – not satisfied with less than the best’.”

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