RICKY PONTING HIT FOR SIX

PONTING'S HIT FOR SIX

We caught up with cricketing great Ricky Ponting to chat about his new winemaking venture. >>

Talk to us about the new brand. Where are they made? What’s the style?

We are currently producing wines out of South Australia and my home state of Tasmania. With the South Australian wines we have an Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc, Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon and McLaren Vale Shiraz. The wines are all made by winemaker Ben Riggs. Ben’s winemaking philosophy is to make wines that people fnd delicious, wines that make consumers want to have a second glass. We wanted to ensure we made wines for people to enjoy. I’ve really enjoyed the McLaren Vale Shiraz with a good steak on the BBQ over recent months.

Is there much teamwork in winemaking? Who’s on your team?

There is defnitely teamwork in getting the wines completed. My wife Rianna and I both worked with Ben Riggs on the blending, which was a great experience. Working together on the fnal blends to deliver wines we were all happy with required plenty of teamwork over many sessions. From the winery side, whilst Ben heads up the winemaking there’s a full team at the winery and in the vineyards who all have an impact on the fnal result. >>

What’s been your journey into wine? Have you always loved wine?

I grew up in more of a beer and a barbeque, blue collar setting in Launceston in Tasmania. Rianna was really the one to introduce me to wine. Since I have retired, I’ve learnt more about wine than during my playing career. Rianna and I enjoy sharing a glass together after a busy day.

How do you think cricket and wine tie together? Are there similar qualities - maybe an element of creativity or perfectionism - that overlap?

The dedication to the craftsmanship is where I have seen similarities. Winemakers like Ben Riggs are so dedicated to their craft, in the same way I have seen dedication from batsmen and bowlers through their cricketing careers. Honing their craft and continuing to deliver their best at every opportunity, the pride in the performance are obvious similarities.

How did you find the process? Were there any surprises along the road?

It has taken time to understand the complexity of wine production and the variation in wine styles. But it has been great to get immersed in the whole process of bringing our wines to life. It’s been great to get immersed in the whole process of bringing our wine styles to life.

What’s next for the brand?

There will be new releases in the next few months. Something to watch out for. We have sold out of the Tasmanian Pinot Noir and have almost sold through our frst vintages of McLaren Vale Shiraz and Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon so new vintages will be coming through soon.