Nicole Brasier and Sam Rowlands. Image courtesy Bleasdale Vineyards

This week, Bleasdale welcomed its new senior winemaker, 2024 Len Evans Tutorial Scholar Nicole Brasier, to the winemaking team.

Brasier graduated from The University of Adelaide in 2016 with a Bachelor of Oenology and Viticulture, and has since worked across various wine regions and wineries in Australia. This experience has led Brasier to develop a keen interest in single-site Chardonnay and Shiraz, and a focus on crafting wines that showcase the best expression of each region and vineyard they were grown in.

Iain Riggs AM, Bleasdale chair, said Brasier brings with her “a wealth of wine knowledge” and a “deep understanding” of wine quality.

“I’ve had recent experience of this with Nicole being a 2024 Len Evans Tutorial Scholar,” said Riggs. “Her time spent in the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale and working with Adelaide Hills fruit is a perfect fit for Bleasdale. I’m sure Nicole will bring out the best in Langhorne Creek grapes from the old vine varieties available to her.”

Bleasdale’s general manager, Leigh Warren, said Brasier would have a few months settle in before fruit from the ’25 vintage hits the winery.

“Nicole has revealed some solid experience through her career to date,” said Warren. “She has been an active judge on the show circuit and recently completed the Len Evans Tutorial.  We are really looking forward to Nicole joining the Bleasdale team.”

Brasier has been actively participating as a judge for regional and national wine shows for the past ten years. She will work closely with Bleasdale’s viticulturist and grower liaison officer Sarah Keough to foster biodiversity and sustainability at Bleasdale.

“I have a passion for driving continuous improvements towards sustainability in the wine industry,” Brasier explained. “I am a Freshcare trainer and have experience managing Sustainable Wine Growers Australia Code of Practices for wineries, vineyards and wine businesses.”

Brasier will join Sam Rowlands in the winery, who was mentored by the previous winemaking team of Paul Hotker and Matt Laube, and has rapidly moved up the ranks to become Bleasdale’s winemaker.

Beginning at Bleasdale in a vintage role, Rowlands transitioned to winemaker over the past two years, and has been working as a winemaker at Bleasdale Vineyards since early 2023.

“I love working at Bleasdale and hope to utilise my varied experience in the wine industry to help continue to produce outstanding and characterful wines,” said Rowlands.

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