Description
Samantha Connew, who hails from the South Island of New Zealand, is a name that has been gaining increasing attention in the Australian wine industry for all the right reasons. Her experience truly traverses the world of wine – previously the Senior Winemaker at Wirra Wirra (McLaren Vale, South Australia) for a decade, Sam also worked for the Australian Wine Research Institute as well as in Spain, Italy, Oregon. Named in honour of Abel Tasman as the first European to sight Tasmania and then the South Island of New Zealand in 1642, Stargazer was born in 2012 after Sam fell in love with the quality of fruit and potential Tasmania offers.
Sam’s Pinot Noir comes from the Palisander Vineyard that was planted in 2002, just twenty minutes north-east from Hobart. Fermentation occurs with about 25% of whole bunches being used, undergoing natural fermentation before being aged for just under a year in French puncheons (larger barrels) – over 20% being new barrels. The usage of larger barrels restrain an overtly oaky influence to the fruit, with a harmonious intertwining of fruit and savoury complexity to the resulting wine. In under a decade of her work in Tasmania with Stargazer, Sam Connew has proven herself to be one of the most exciting new winemakers not within just the Apple Isle but all of Australia.
Sam continues to drive the world of wine forward as a member of both Wine Tasmania and in her role on the advisory board of the Australian Women in Wine Awards.
