Sarah Fagan

De Bortoli Wines

Sarah Fagan’s involvement with the winemaking business began prior to her graduation from Charles Sturt University in 2003 – even before her course was over, she had completed vintages in NSW. In 2003 she relocated to the Yarra Valley, and worked as a cellar hand for De Bortoli Wines.

The next year Sarah headed to California for six months, working on a vintage with Littorai Wines, and on return to Australia, was employed as a winemaker with De Bortoli. Sarah has been based in the Yarra Valley ever since, and is also involved in vintages with the company’s winery in the Hunter Valley each year.

Sarah has been an active wine show judge and in 2008 was a scholar with the Len Evans Tutorial. When she is not working in the vineyards, Sarah enjoys skiing, “especially in Japan where the powder snow is absolutely something else!”

A family owned wine company, De Bortoli Wines is now run by third generation De Bortoli family members. De Bortoli’s philosophy focuses on minimal handling and interference with the grapes, and the vineyard produces wine which reflects regionality and the soil in which it is grown. The De Bortoli family creates interesting and exciting wines which are produced in diverse wine growing regions.

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