Our Winemaker

Frank Newman

Born in England Frank arrived in South Australia (then Australia’s undisputed wine capital) as a teenager. Growing up in a family involved in the wine industry meant his passion for wine started young and has never waned since. Frank’s pedigree as a winemaker is first class, with the first half of a career spanning 40 years devoted to Penfolds, before choosing to become Chief Winemaker and Production Manager for Angove’s and a number of other wineries. With the Awards he continues to receive for both the Burnbrae wines (along with the ones Burnbrae produces for other wineries on a contract basis) he is undisputedly one of the most qualified winemakers in the region. His approach to winemaking is much like any artist creating a unique piece; thus he uses smell and taste as well as an intimate knowledge of the chemistry and process.

Frank’s big picture is to “see the fruit that’s grown end up in wines that in the future will be held up as Mudgee icons”.  As most people in the region know how good the Burnbrae fruit is, it is now his desire to have it become better known throughout the State and Nationally.

While Frank may have Rolls Royce qualifications, he prefers to be creating his masterpieces rather than discussing them and he is happiest keeping an eye on things from the background.