Peter Gago
Encyclopedia
Peter Gago is an Australian winemaker
and author
, and the current custodian of Penfolds Grange
, possibly the best known Australian wine
.
He was born in Newcastle
, England
, where he lived until the age of six before emigrating to Australia, settling in Melbourne
. He became a high school teacher of mathematics
and chemistry
in the early 1980s after graduating from the University of Melbourne
with a Bachelor of Science
. At age twenty-nine, he undertook a Bachelor of Applied Science (Oenology
) degree at Roseworthy College
, graduating as dux. He started a job with Penfolds
Wines in 1989, initially producing sparkling wine
before moving on to reds
, and eventually being made Penfolds Red Wine Oenologist. In July 2002, at age forty-five, Gago succeeded John Duval
as Penfolds Chief Winemaker, becoming only the fourth person to hold the position since Max Schubert
was first appointed in 1948. He has been involved with the market promotion of Penfolds wines since the early 1990s, travelling extensively to attend wine shows and conduct tastings
and master class
es. In 2005, he was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine
.
On winemaking, he has said, "I would not say that my style is particularly evident in the winemaking, although I'm a firm believer in no filtration or fining, natural yeasts, open-top fermenting and other noninvasive techniques. For me, it's about knowing when to interfere and when to stay out of the way".
Gago has co-authored three books about wine with Patrick Iland. He is married to Gail Gago
, a Labor
member of the South Australian Legislative Council
.
Winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:*Cooperating with viticulturists...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and the current custodian of Penfolds Grange
Penfolds Grange
Penfolds Grange is an Australian wine, made predominantly from the Shiraz grape and usually a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It is widely considered Australia's "first growth" and its most collectable wine...
, possibly the best known Australian wine
Australian wine
The Australian Wine Industry is the fourth largest exporter of wine around the world, with 760 million litres a year to a large international export market and contributes $5.5 billion per annum to the nation's economy...
.
He was born in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he lived until the age of six before emigrating to Australia, settling in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He became a high school teacher of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in the early 1980s after graduating from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
. At age twenty-nine, he undertook a Bachelor of Applied Science (Oenology
Oenology
Oenology,[p] œnology , or enology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting, which is a subfield called viticulture. “Viticulture & oenology” is a common designation for training programmes and research centres that include both the...
) degree at Roseworthy College
Roseworthy College
Roseworthy Agricultural College was an agricultural college in Australia. It is north of Adelaide and west of Roseworthy town. It was the first agricultural college in Australia, established in 1883. It is now part of the University of Adelaide....
, graduating as dux. He started a job with Penfolds
Penfolds
Penfolds is an Australian wine producer, founded in 1844 by Christopher Rawson Penfold, an English physician who emigrated to Australia, and his wife, Mary Penfold...
Wines in 1989, initially producing sparkling wine
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
before moving on to reds
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, and eventually being made Penfolds Red Wine Oenologist. In July 2002, at age forty-five, Gago succeeded John Duval
John DuVal
John Tabb DuVal was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1940, and grew up in Jenkintown, a suburb of Philadelphia. He holds an A.B. in English from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in English from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master's in French, a...
as Penfolds Chief Winemaker, becoming only the fourth person to hold the position since Max Schubert
Max Schubert
Max Schubert AM was a pioneering Australian winemaker who is best known as the creator of Grange Hermitage.-Career:He joined Penfolds in the early 1930s as a messenger boy and became chief winemaker in 1948 through 1975...
was first appointed in 1948. He has been involved with the market promotion of Penfolds wines since the early 1990s, travelling extensively to attend wine shows and conduct tastings
Wine tasting
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards...
and master class
Master class
A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also painting, drama, or any of the arts....
es. In 2005, he was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Wine Enthusiast Magazine is a lifestyle magazine covering wine, food, spirits, travel and entertaining topics. It was founded in 1988 by Adam and Sybil Strum and reaches 680,000 readers. Its wine ratings, conducted by reviewers in major wine-producing areas of the world, comprise a large section of...
.
On winemaking, he has said, "I would not say that my style is particularly evident in the winemaking, although I'm a firm believer in no filtration or fining, natural yeasts, open-top fermenting and other noninvasive techniques. For me, it's about knowing when to interfere and when to stay out of the way".
Gago has co-authored three books about wine with Patrick Iland. He is married to Gail Gago
Gail Gago
Gail Elizabeth Gago is an Australian politician, and an Australian Labor Party member of the South Australian Legislative Council since being elected in 2002...
, a Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the South Australian Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
.
Books
- Discovering Australian Wine : A Taster's Guide (1995), ISBN 0-646-22238-4
- Australian Wine : From the Vine to the Glass (1997), ISBN 0-646-31855-1
- Australian Wine : Styles and Tastes (2002), ISBN 0-9581605-0-3