Veteran winemaker Chris Hatcher on going solo

We last spoke with Chris Hatcher in May 2021, at which time he was still chief winemaker of the legendary Wolf Blass brand. Chris has since retired from Wolf Blass, but it’s not retirement as you or I would know it, because Chris has thrown himself into his own venture, Hatch Wines, which is what we’ll be discussing today. Chris has relished the opportunity to build his small, family-run brand from scratch. And unlike his corporate winemaking days, he is hands on at every stage of the process, from winemaking and blending, to marketing, showcasing and most importantly, selling the wines.  The result is a portfolio of premium shiraz and Riesling from some of South Australia’s most esteemed vineyards, and the wines have generated rave reviews from some of the country’s top critics.