Natalie Cleghorn appointed Chief Winemaker of Beresford Estate

Written By Campbell Mattinson

Acclaimed winemaker Natalie Cleghorn has been appointed chief winemaker at Beresford Estate in McLaren Vale.

Cleghorn’s past roles – which span 26 years – include stints at Yalumba, Katnook Estate and Mitchelton. She was the first female winemaker of Yalumba’s iconic The Menzies and, indeed, made the 2019 Yalumba Menzies – which won Best Cabernet in the 2021 James Halliday Cabernet Challenge.

"I am excited to join Beresford Estate and to lead its winemaking team through a new era of excellence," Cleghorn said. "The opportunity to craft wines that reflect not only the beauty of our vineyards, but also resonate with wine consumers from around the world, is very unique.”

Beresford Estate was founded in 1985 by Rob and Bronwyn Dundon, and includes 70 acres of vineyard.

Beresford Estate vineyards in McLaren Vale.
Campbell Mattinson

This article was written by Campbell Mattinson, former chief editor of the Halliday Wine Companion book, former editor of Halliday magazine, former editor of Australian Sommelier Magazine and founder of the highly respected The Winefront site.

Mattinson has been an independent wine critic and photo-journalist since 1987. He’s the only Australian to have won the Australian Wine Communicator of the Year Award more than once. He’s a past winner of a Louis Roederer International Wine Media Award; is the author of the award-winning book The Wine Hunter; and is the author of the best-selling novel We Were Not Men. He’s also a winner of a St Kilda Film Festival Award (as writer-director) and is a former winner of the prized Best Australian Sports Writing Award.

Mattinson, who is 100% independent, puts a score out of 100 on every wine that he reviews. But what he’d rather do, is tell you the wine’s story.

https://www.campbellmattinson.com
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