Uncorked: Steve James of Voyager Estate

Steve James is the manager of winemaking and viticulture at Margaret River’s Voyager Estate. Having graduated with a diploma of Applied Science Horticulture in viticulture, James honed his skills at Stonier Wines and Amberley before joining Voyager Estate. Its ‘Voyager Estate Chardonnay’, a pure expression of the grape variety, was given our top award, a Master at the Asian Chardonnay Masters competition held earlier in April. An avid sports fan, the winemaker chats to dbHK about his impressive breath-holding abilities and his dream dinner party with tennis superstars – Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

What vintage are you? 

The Year of the Dragon – 1964.

What bottle sparked your love of wine? 

Some of the earlier vintages of Wynns ‘Black Label’ Cabernet Sauvignon were the wines that really grabbed my interest and started my wine journey. I was quite intrigued by the influence of the terra rossa soil on the quality of these wines and, their ability to age for many years.

What would you be as a wine? 

Probably something full bodied but with a softer edge – maybe an aged Cabernet Sauvignon!

Where are you happiest? 

With my family and friends having a nice meal and drinking some fine wines.

What’s your greatest vice? 

Probably buying too much wine – particularly when I know I shouldn’t!

Best advice you ever got? 

I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with and been given some great advice from some terrific people, but it’s hard to beat some of the basics from my parents – never give up and, always focus on the things you can control and not the things you can’t. Both are extremely helpful when it comes to making great wine!

Your cellar’s underwater, which bottle would you dive in and save? 

I’ve got two hands and a good breath-hold from many years of free-diving, so I would grab two. I think it would be the 2006 Domaine Coche-Dury Meursault and a 2012 Ridge Monte Bello.

What’s the best and worst thing about the wine business? 

The best thing is vintage. It is the busiest time of the year and, it is all consuming but so exciting. It is great to see the culmination of the season’s hard work in the vineyard, combined with the anticipation of how the young wines are looking. It is also a time of great camaraderie amongst the team and, we always get to meet some lovely people who help us out at this time of the year.

The worst thing about the wine game is rainfall at harvest. Growing great grapes in Margaret River is so easy in most years as it doesn’t rain very often during the summer and autumn – but every now and then nature likes to test us out!

What’s on your wine bucket list? 

A trip to Barolo with my wife and a small group of close friends.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? 

My wife and close family of course and I’m going to go for a sports/tennis theme – Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)?

100 Points – I’m very fortunate to have such a wonderful wife and family and, to live in paradise doing something that I love.

Which wine would you like served at your funeral?

Some nicely aged Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon.