Uncorked: Neil McGuigan

Neil McGuigan is a multiple-award winning winemaker at the head of McGuigan Wines. A Hunter Valley native, the capable winemaker amassed a wealth of experiences working at Wyndham Estate, Briar Ridge Vineyard, Rothbury Estate and now Australian Vintage as its CEO, the parent company that owns McGuigan Wines, Tempus Two and Nepenthe.  In an interview with dbHK, the seasoned winemaker reveals his biggest vice – chocolate, and his own self comparison to an “old, tired and flat bottle of Champagne”.

What vintage are you? 

The best vintage in living memory! 1958.

What bottle sparked your love of wine? 

A German Trockenbeerenauslese from Balthasar Ress.

What would you be as a wine? 

An old, tired and flat bottle of Champagne.

Where are you happiest? 

With my family.

What’s your greatest vice? 

Chocolate.

Best advice you ever got? 

“Failure takes no preparation.”

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

Three bottles; 1988 Château Margaux, 1992 Grange and 1997 Wynn’s Michael Shiraz. Wines of the birth years of my three children.

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

The best is the diversity of the job, the people and the fact it is global. The worst is how incredibly competitive it is and the bad foreign exchange rates.

What’s on your wine bucket list? 

Any wine made by Maurice O’Shea.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? 

All of my Hunter Valley mates, Joe Gallo, Anthony von Mandl, Miles Beale, Dennis Lillee.

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)?

30 out of 100.

Which wine would you like served at your funeral?

Any wine my brother buys.