Craig Stansborough
| Speciality | Wine |
|---|---|
| From | Australia |
| Company | Accolade Wines |
| Position | Group Premium Winemaker Australia/New Zealand |
#2023judge
Born in Gawler, on the edge of the Barossa Valley, Craig grew up with the wine industry all around him. He started as a cellar hand with B Seppelt & Son in 1983, firstly at Chateau Tanunda and then later at historic Seppeltsfield Winery.
Craig joined Grant Burge Wines in 1993 as Assistant Winemaker, Winemaker in 1995 and Senior Winemaker in 1997 and continued that role until 2019. In 2019 Craig took on the role of Group Premium Winemaker within Accolade Wines, this has allowed winemaking experience in multiple Australian regions including McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley as well as regions within Western Australia to Tasmania.
Craig is highly regarded for his talent, strong leadership, inquisitive mind, and unrelenting passion for winemaking.
Craig is renowned for his contribution to some of Australia’s most respected wines – Meshach, The Holy Trinity, Shadrach, the highly regarded Filsell. He is justifiably proud of their development and has crafted a solid reputation for excellence and conveying the true values of the Barossa.
A passionate ambassador for the Barossa and proud to serve on the Barossa Wine Show Committee for 10 years as well as being a part of the inaugural Barossa Technical committee. He also had the honor of being named Barossa Winemaker of the year in 2014.
Craig travels internationally for the company promoting the values and messages which have made our Australian regions famous. Being a vineyard owner as well as winemaker, Craig knows the nuances of the region intimately, the seasons, the soil, the varieties and is committed to maintaining the healthy environment to hand to future generations. His involvement with the company’s viticultural team is greatly respected, where his knowledge transfers to influencing the management of each year’s harvest.
Craig’s discerning palate earned him a role as a panelist and judge on the Barossa Wine Show, National Wine Show, Australia Greatest Red and as a tasting panelist for the Australian Research Institute.
