After 13 years with the Jesuits, winemaker goes it alone

For the past 13 years Liz Heidenreich had been the winemaker at Sevenhill Cellars, the Jesuit-owned winery in the Clare Valley. 

Before that she did four vintages as winemaker for British pop star Sir Cliff Richard’s Vida Nova brand.

Now Heidenreich, whose family have grown wine grapes since 1936, has struck out on her own with three releases under her own label, a bold Barossa shiraz, a Barossa grenache and a Clare Valley riesling.

The shiraz and grenache come from family vineyards, while the riesling is from Watervale, here she lives. 

“My philosophy is to source small parcels of fruit from the regions in which they excel and handcraft individual batches that capture the fruit’s formidable character," said Heidenreich, who worked for years alongside legendary priest/winemaker Brother John May.

”I’m really pleased that this new venture recognises my family’s long association with the Barossa Valley her great-grandfather arrived from Germany in 1886) and their involvement in grape-growing and winemaking.”

  

Heidenreich is also moonlighting as winemaker for Peter Teakle Wines at Port Lincoln.