William Downie

William Downie has single-handedly raised the bar for naturally-produced, low intervention Pinot Noir in Australia. He is a local legend, laying the groundwork for making Gippsland the next important Australian wine region.

William Downie is so highly regarded in Australian wine circles as a maker of top pinot noir that he is almost synonymous with the variety. De Bortoli’s Steve Webber once described him as the “best winemaker in Australia” and a group of sommeliers have even formed a fan club, Team Downie.

William Downie established his own label in 2003 after several years living and working in Burgundy. His intention is to produce wines of purity and detail that reflect their place of origin. They are made in the most natural way possible, not pushed or shoved in any direction. They are not added to or subtracted from. Although each of the William Downie wines is made from Pinot Noir, the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland are more different than they are similar. William was the Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine Young Australian Winemaker of The Year for 2006.