Bleasdale Vineyards in Langhorne Creek, South Australia, has made two key appointments, welcoming a new Chairman of the Board and Senior Winemaker.
Iain Riggs AM has taken the reigns from outgoing Chairman, Robert Edwards, who has served as Bleasdale’s Chairman since 2014.
Prior to being Chairman, Edwards was the Sales and Marketing Director of Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa for 12 years, before he retired in 2008.
Seven years later he was approached by the Bleasdale board to join them as Chairman, a role he held for a decade.
“Today Bleasdale are making some of the most exciting wines and it has been wonderful to be involved in their journey,” said Edwards.
He passes the baton to wine industry veteran Riggs, who actually began his career at Bleasdale back in 1973 before ultimately finding himself leading Brokenwood winery in the Hunter Valley for almost 40 years.
“I am very humbled but excited to join the Bleasdale Board and take on the role of Chair and working with a great team led by Leigh Warren,” said Riggs, who also thanked Edwards for his decade of service to the Board.
Bleasdale General Manager, Leigh Warren congratulated Riggs, stating that she is confident that Riggs will meet the expectations and be a good addition to the Board.
“Iain has gone on to do some amazing things in the wine industry as many would be aware and we are so very fortunate to have him at the helm of our board. Congratulations on your retirement Robert and thank you so much from all of us here at Bleasdale for your support, mentoring and guidance over the years,” Warren said.
Dynamic new winemaking team
Bleasdale also welcomed a new Senior Winemaker, the 2024 Len Evans Tutorial Scholar, Nicole Brasier. She graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Oenology and Viticulture from Adelaide University and has since worked with various wineries across Australia.
“I have a passion for driving continuous improvements towards sustainability in the wine industry. I am a Freshcare trainer and have experience managing Sustainable Wine Growers Australia Code of Practices for wineries, vineyards and wine businesses,” said Brasier.
Riggs highlighted that Brasier’s experience in the wine industry made her the most suitable candidate for the position.
“Nicole brings to Bleasdale Vineyards a wealth of wine knowledge and deep understanding of wine quality; I’ve had recent experience of this with Nicole being a 2024 Len Evans Tutorial Scholar. Her time spent in the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale and working with Adelaide Hills fruit is a perfect fit for Bleasdale. I’m sure Nicole will bring out the best in Langhorne Creek grapes from the old vine varieties available to her,” he said.
Bleasdale’s General Manager, Warren also celebrated Brasier’s appointment, saying: “Nicole has revealed some solid experience through her career to date. She has been an active judge on the show circuit and recently completed the Len Evans Tutorial. We are really looking forward to Nicole joining the Bleasdale team. She will have a couple of months to get settled before the ’25 vintage’ fruit starts to roll in.”
Brasier will join fellow winemaker Sam Rowlands, as Bleasdale Vineyards prepares to celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2025.
A 175-year legacy
Frank Potts founded the Bleasdale Vineyards in 1850, which was later handed over to his three sons who for over 40 years transformed the estate into the wine dynasty it is today.
In 1935, a third generation took over the winery for 17 years until 1948 when the privately owned property became a company, giving it the name Bleasdale Vineyards, still used today. In 2013, Bleasdale was invested by new stakeholders to help ensure the future of the company.
With Iain Riggs now Chairman of the Board, and Nicole Brasier as the new Senior Winemaker, the Bleasdale legacy continues in good hands.
