Andrew Pirie Biography

Andrew Pirie is one of Australia's most respected winemakers and has made significant contributions towards the current success of the Australian wine industry. Australia's first PhD in Viticulture and founder of Pipers Brook, Dr Pirie launched Tasmania onto the world wine scene with a bang when his inaugural 1994 Ninth Island Chardonnay took out the white wine trophy at the International Wine Challenge in London. His name still appears on the label of the wine dubbed by Matthew Jukes and others, as 'the greatest sparkling wine made outside of Champagne!' Vintage Pirie 1996. In 2011 he was awarded Best White Wine in Sweden by the System Bolaget for the Pirie Estate Riesling 2007, produced in the Tamar Valley.

Dr Pirie has received national acclaim for his contributions to the Australian wine industry. In 2001 he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the Tasmanian wine and tourism industries. In recognition of his expertise and flair for innovation he was given the rare honour of being nominated as a finalist in the QANTAS/Australian Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year Award in both 2002 and 2003.

Over the last 4 decades, Andrew Pirie has been the most influential figure in the Tasmanian wine industry, initiating and building some of Tasmania's largest and most important vineyards and wineries including Pipers Brook Vineyard, Ninth Island which he co-founded with his brother David in 1974 and Pirie sparkling in 1999.

Andrew Pirie continues to be involved in the Tasmanian industry and apart from his hands-on role at Apogee, consults on industry development, conducts climate research as Honorary Researcher at Tasmanian Insitute of Agriculture and is writing a book on wine terroir.

"I remain passionate about the cool climate wine potential of Tasmania. It is exciting to have been involved in the Tasmanian industry from the early days of its modern rebirth to its current success."