2010 YOUNG GUN

23rd August 2010

Rollo Crittenden, second generation winemaker from Mornington Peninsula’s Crittenden Estate, has been named as this year’sYoung Gun Australian Winemaker of the Year.  Representing a region that is barely 30 years old, Rollo’s win reinforces the quality offering from Crittenden Estate and the Mornington Peninsula overall.

Announced this week at the Young Gun of Wine Awards ceremony at Melbourne’s Supper Club, the awards night was the culmination of a week-long festival celebrating the freshest, newest and most innovative young winemaking talent in the Australian wine industry.  Chosen from a shortlist of eleven winemakers from all over the country, the competition was ‘hot’ to say the least.

Rollo has worked in the industry all his life; he started on his family’s vineyards, working with father Garry, at an early age.  After gaining further invaluable work experience and exposure in California, Oregon, Italy and our own Hunter Valley, Rollo has settled back home at Crittenden Estate to head up winemaking operations, overseeing production of the Crittenden Estate, Pinocchio, Geppetto and Los Hermanos ranges.  Rollo leads a pack of emerging second generation winemakers on the Peninsula whose talent, energy and enthusiasm give an added layer of depth to the local wine industry, which in turn contributes so much to the local economy.

Rollo’s father Garry was an innovator in the development of alternative varietals in Australia and this pioneering spirit has continued with Rollo and his sister Zoe establishing the Los Hermanos range in 2008.  Featuring classic Spanish varietals, complete with quirky packaging and a snappy winemaking approach, the Los Hermanos range (which translates as the siblings), has further established Rollo’s credentials as an innovative winemaker with a global approach.  It is the Los Hermanos range of wines particularly which caught the judges’ eyes.

The Young Gun of Wine judging panel of Chief Judge Nick Stock, Young Gun of Wine Founder Rory Kent, Max Allen, Philip Rich and last year’s winner, Colin McBryde of Some Young Punks, were impressed with the overall standard of all competitors however, Rollo’s wines shone through.  Nick Stock said, “Rollo has struck a unique chord in terms of the wines he’s making, the styles, the package and the pitch - all beautifully understated, polished and presented.”

On receiving his award, Rollo Crittenden said he was “absolutely rapt to be chosen from such a competitive field.”  He went on to say, “I would also like to acknowledge the support I have received from the tight knit and committed group of vignerons in our region.  They are a very talented group producing top quality wines and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Go to www.crittendenwines.com.au or www.younggunofwine.com for more information