MEET… Stuart Pierce - Fishbone Wines
Meet Stuart Pierce - Winemaker, Fishbone Wines in Margaret River.
Stuart planted the Fishbone vineyard alongside the Sorgiovanni family (owners) back in 2014. He’s a humble Jimmy Watson award-winning winemaker who remains dedicated to celebrating the land, the vine, and the variety through a purist approach to winemaking.
Name…Stuart Pierce
Label… Fishbone
Region… Margaret River, Western Australia
Let’s talk Fishbone…
Fishbone in three words… Daring. Diverse. Dynamic.
Your favourite block in the Fishbone vineyard… the new blocks of Malbec are really exciting me at the moment – but the Chardonnay block will forever be my favourite child.
What’s so special about the wine at Fishbone… we have access to some of the most pristine Margaret River fruit – and we dare to try new styles and new winemaking ideas with it.
Not only have we shown that we can be adaptive to the weather and the vines – but we are really diversifying the styles of wines we produce beyond the hallmarks of the region.
Let’s talk Wine…
Most underrated wine variety… Shiraz.
Biggest shifts in Aussie wine over the past 5-10 years… the notoriety and clout of natural wines. They have really elevated from immature experiments to refined and clean expressions.
What do you love most about making wine… that final tweak or blend before it goes into the bottle. It is a moment of hyper-focus, where that one last small change can make all the difference to what people are going to drink (and enjoy).
Margaret River is one of the most magical winemaking regions in the world (in my humble opinion – and yes, I am bias). The salty sea, the coastal breezes, the bush – there is a real symphony of factors here that present themselves in our wineries. It is truly special.
A little more about Stu…
Most surprising wine pairing… Merlot and McDonalds – a match made in heaven. Trust me.
The at home pour… I am generally a Chardy or a Pinot Noir man.
Currently reading… I am currently reading a fascinating book about the guide to tobacco pipe smoking, the history of tobacco and tobacco pipes by Richard Hacker.
Listening to… Finding forgotten favourites is always fun, but not much as I enjoy the solace that comes with silence.
The guiding principles are to celebrate the land, the vine, and the variety. A purist approach to winemaking. The Indian Ocean’s southern breezes meet the north facing slopes of Wilyabrup and wrap the Fishbone vineyards in fresh salty breaths. The sun’s sparkles bounce off the spring-fed dam. Rich and nurtured soils feed lines of Fishbone fruit. Under the watchful eye of head winemaker Stuart Pierce, the award winning range showcases the best of our Wilyabrup estate vineyard and distinct qualities of the world-renowned Margaret River Wine Region.