Jack Rabbit Vineyard Winemaker, Nyall Condon, became one of ten finalists in the prestigious Wine Society 'Young Winemaker of the Year' Awards 2012.
The rising star of Geelong Wine region, Nyall Condon has a long and exceptional history of excellence in all aspects of vineyard establishment, winery installation and management and of course, winemaking!
In 2010, Nyall commissioned the state-of-the-art 200 tonne Leura Park Estate winery, one of Australia’s newest and most advanced wineries incorporating some of the most sophisticated equipment and processes in the world. Nyall was also responsible for the commissioning of the progressive winery at Taekyeung College, Daegu, South Korea’s leading and most prestigious educational institute. This included the processing and management of all vintage intakes 2005, 2006, 2007 in addition to training and development in all facets of winemaking and winery management.
At Waurn Ponds Estate, Nyall was Assistant Winemaker for five years as well as being responsible for all winery and production management at the 100 tonne winery. In addition, he was a driving force behind Deakin University’s Oenology Training Academy whose annual student contingent embraced more than 60 students.
Prior to Waurn Ponds Estate, Nyall had ten years experience at Stonehaven in Padthaway, South Australia – a 15,000 tonne winery owned by the largest global wine company, Hardy Constellation.
Nyall’s approach to winemaking is very much about minimal intervention and retaining the natural characters of each varietal – the fruit is the hero. Creative and thoughtful use of oak is another aspect of Nyall’s winemaking mantra – each year different - to best suit the ‘temperament’ and requirements of the varietal and the varying nature of each vintage.
“I see Jack Rabbit wines being ‘honest’ wines – clean, fresh, sophisticated - complex without being too complicated.”
“The attraction of cool climate wines for me is the fact that they are slow ripening which facilitates maximum intensity from nose to finish. Cool climate wines also tend to have an inherent and seamless length and velvety tannins, particularly in the reds.”