Brian Croser set up the Petaluma winery in 1976, matching each cultivar to its right terroir. Croser had already established a Wine Science course at the Riverina College of Advanced Education, mentoring the likes of Rollin Soles of Argyle, Martin Shaw of Shaw & Smith, Andrew Hardy of Knappstein and Dean Hewitson of Hewitson Wines.

In 1985 Croser co-founded the Dundee Wine Company with Cal Knudsen in Oregon’s Willamette Valley which was focussed on traditional method sparkling wines with Pinot Noir reds sold under the Argyle label. The Croser group was taken over by Lion Nathan, with Croser still involved. Croser linked up with Jean-Michel Cazes, of Château Lynch-Bages, and Société Bollinger, in a new ultra-premium Australian wine company, named Tapanappa Wines Pty. Ltd. Tapanappa has made its first wine from the 29 year-old Koppamurra Vineyard in Wrattonbully adjacent to Coonawarra, which Croser says is a “distinguished site” exhibiting the finest terroir in the area, and from which he expects to make benchmark Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blends. ‘The aim of the partnership is to employ the most fastidious viticultural methods to the best vineyard sites and produce small quantities of exquisite wine that will stand alongside of the very best on offer in global fine wine markets. The Koppamurra Vineyard is capable of doing that’, said Croser. Only last week, Croser led the annual lecture for the WSET in London, arguing the case for the future role of Australia’s premium wine regions in the global fine wine market in a speech on ‘Brand or Authenticity’. In 2004 as Tapanappa launches itself onto the world market, and Petaluma approaches it’s 30th anniversary, Croser has the heritage, the future and the world stage on which to celebrate the triumphs of these beliefs. It should be a good 12 months for Decanter’s ‘Man of the Year’ 2004.