Leading the winemaking and winery management for the Petaluma and Croser brands, Teresa Heuzenroeder brings with her an undeniable passion for meticulous winemaking. After more than twenty years perfecting her craft, her approach to winemaking remains unchanged: to create wines with elegance, finesse and balance that convey their sense of place.
Heuzenroeder grew up in Adelaide, South Australia and developed a keen interest in science from an early age. This led her to complete a Bachelor Degree in Chemistry and Microbiology at the University of South Australia in 1991. Her wine journey began in the Barossa in 1994 where she was employed by the Hill Smith family at Yalumba as a microbiologist. In 1996, a chance tasting with the winemaking team sparked her interest in the art and science of winemaking and she was hooked. Moonlighting in the cellar to gain valuable practical experience, she began studying a Bachelor of Wine Science, by distance education at Charles Sturt University and officially became part of the Yalumba winemaking team in 2000.
In 2008 she was promoted to Senior Winemaker, responsible for cool climate white and sparkling wines. During that time she was intimately involved with a number of Yalumba and Hill-Smith Family Vineyards portfolios including Heggies, Jansz, and Redbank. It was during her time at Redbank that she was able to round out her expertise working with red and alternative varieties.
With her scientific background and constant quest for excellence, Heuzenroeder has participated in many research projects and trials, including extensive clonal work. These assignments, coupled with her diverse winemaking experience, have provided her with a holistic, hands-on approach to winemaking and attention to detail for every element of the winemaking process.
“It is such an honour to be working with Petaluma, a brand with significant history in Australia. It’s a unique opportunity to continue the evolution of these classic varieties from such a diverse range of distinguished vineyards and regions.”
Readers also enjoyed our story about Stern Girls Mustard Made
