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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
CHIEF WINEMAKER- DR ANDREW PIRIE
 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 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 WINE 2002 and again 2003 Winemaker of the Year Award. Over the last 2 decades, Andrew Pirie has been the most influential figure in the Tasmanian wine industry, initiating and building Tasmania’s largest and most important vineyards and wineries.
Andrew Pirie continues to lead the state industry in producing a dramatic surge of quality Tasmanian wines. These include his own outstanding Pinot Noirs amongst the impressive vintages of the Pirie South and Pirie Estate labels of his family-owned wine business based in the Tamar Valley. As Chief Executive and Chief Winemaker of Tamar Ridge, Dr Pirie is overseering the significant expansion of Tasmania’s largest wine company with over 300 hectares of vineyards to build a world-best practice wine company.
“I remain passionate about the cool climate wine potential of Tasmania. It is exciting to be involved in an industry which benefits lifestyle, from its modern inception to consolidation.” GENERAL MANAGER - WILL ADKINS
 Will has been General Manager of Tamar Ridge since 2002. A Tasmanian by birth, Will spent 15 years in the South Australian wine industry completing studies at Roseworthy Agricultural College before moving to St Hallett wines in the Barossa Valley. His career at St Hallett commenced with the 1990 vintage and culminated with his appointment as General Manager in 2000. Since moving back to Tasmania, Will has been actively involved in all aspects of Tamar Ridge’s operations, with a growing emphasis on visiting the increasing number of international markets seeking to learn more about Tasmania’s genuine cool climate wines. SENIOR WINEMAKER - TOM RAVECH
Tom joined Tamar Ridge in July, 2006 as Senior Winemaker. After completing a Business Degree at Monash in 1994 he started working in the wine industry and has packed a lot of winemaking experience into those following 12 years including working in cool and warm climate areas in Australia, New Zealand and California at both small and large wineries. During this period he also found time to complete a degree in Wine Science at Charles Sturt University. His position prior to joining Tamar Ridge was as Operations Winemaker with the Villa Maria group in New Zealand and before that as winemaker with Tucks Ridge on the Mornington Peninsula. Since arriving at Tamar Ridge, Tom has had a busy time getting to know the Tasmanian wine regions with their distinct terroirs and exploring the huge potential of Tassie fruit and the wine styles it supports. He is getting plenty of ‘hands on’ experience finishing wines from the 2006 vintage and of course getting right into the action of the 2007 vintage.
VITICULTURIST - RICHARD SMART
 Richard Smart is one of the best qualified viticulturists in the world. He has four degrees, and almost 40 years experience in vineyards of the world. Richard studied Agricultural Science at Sydney University, graduating in 1966. He began his viticultural science career at Griffith NSW where he undertook some of the world’s first experiments with drip irrigation on vineyards. Richard undertook his PhD studies at Cornell University in upstate New York, before returning to take up teaching, administrative and research duties at Roseworthy College.
Richard has also owned a vineyard in the Barossa Valley, was a Government Viticultural Scientist in New Zealand, has published more than 250 articles, writes bi-monthly columns in leading Australian and Californian trade journals and is now the Managing Director of Smart Viticulture, consulting to 200 clients world wide, in 20 different countries. Richard now lives in Launceston where Tamar Ridge Estates is one of his major clients. COMPANY VITICULTURIST - PAUL TOWNSEND
 Paul is another of those Tassie boys who moved to the mainland to further his education and career. He completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Viticulture at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga before moving to Victoria’s Yarra Valley where he worked on and managed vineyards. This led him to develop a passion for, and gain valuable experience in cool climate viticulture. The expansion of the Tasmanian wine industry paved the way for Paul to return to Tasmania to join Tamar Ridge. He has now moved into the role of company viticulturist which means he is involved with each of our four vineyard sites and allows him to set up programs to further develop our understanding of these sites. Paul has a meticulous approach to the science of viticulture and this attention to detail is greatly assisting the winemaking team to get the best possible fruit from each of our vineyards. OPERATIONS MANAGER - ROD LYON
 Rod has a strong background in agriculture having spent time as a jackeroo before completing studies in farm management and horticulture. After time spent managing large mixed farming enterprises around Orange in NSW Rod moved into viticulture. He developed and managed substantial new plantings in central NSW and developed a strong interest in project management and development. This interest in project management led to a role managing the construction of a 15,000 tonne winery near Orange. Rod brought these project management skills to Tassie when he joined the Tamar Ridge Estates team in February, 2004 as Development Manager for the vineyard expansion programme. He has now moved into the role of Operations Manager for the winery and production areas where he is overseeing day to day operations including the substantial expansion of the winery and the purchase and installation of a new bottling line. Rod’s energy and enthusiasm and his love of a new challenge makes him an integral member of the team. Now all we have to do is wean him away from big mainland reds to discover the joys of Tassie Pinot Noir.
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