Shaw + Smith: Latest releases and future plans

Shaw + Smith has promoted its global sales and marketing manager David LeMire MW and winemaker Adam Wadewitz to become joint chief executive officers of the Adelaide Hills winery.

Founders Michael Hill Smith MW and Martin Shaw, who established the business in 1989, will maintain active roles. Wadewitz (who joined in 2013) will continue as chief winemaker, alongside winemaker Sam Davies and assistant winemaker Alex Clark.

The elevation of LeMire and Wadewitz reflects a steady evolution of their roles within the company. Over the past four years they have been part of an executive committee with Hill Smith, Shaw and chief financial officer Grant Lovelock.

‘It’s been a collaborative approach, discussing all aspects of the business together,’ says LeMire, who joined in 2010. ‘From Michael and Martin, we’ve learned that issues are given the time and space they deserve and discussed frequently to arrive at a considered vision. I admire their discipline and planning, and this provides the company with great stability.’

One of the CEOs’ first tasks will be establishing a new Shaw + Smith vineyard at Piccadilly, planting 5.5ha to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Shaw + Smith owns two other vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, at Balhannah and Lenswood, totalling 55ha.

Tolpuddle and The Other Wine Co

The company also operates Tolpuddle vineyard in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are brought to Shaw + Smith’s Balhannah winery for processing and released under the Tolpuddle label.

The Other Wine Co is another Shaw + Smith offshoot brand. It is built on Wadewitz’s purchase of fruit parcels for small-batch experiments, including Grenache from McLaren Vale and Cabernet Franc from Kangaroo Island. ‘These additional wine projects are important for the growth of the company,’ says LeMire. ‘Not in terms of volume, but as serious creative endeavors that illustrate the peaks of what this company can achieve.’

LeMire knows the company faces immediate challenges. ‘Emerging from the effects of Covid-19 will be a long, hard grind – something that will take years, not months. But I still see that there is opportunity amid the disruption. Trends such as buying wine online from home are accelerating, so we need to adjust to this reality.’

Their first test will be promoting a suite of new releases – Adelaide Hills M3 Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz, plus single-vineyard Lenswood Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz. LeMire highlights the latter three as shining examples of the company’s future direction. ‘The primacy of great vineyards and sharpening our focus on specific sites to show true expression is a perfect fit for our vision.’

For prices and availability of these new releases, contact importers Liberty Wines in the UK and Winebow Imports in the US.

Shaw + Smith: seven new releases

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