14/05/2026
Petaluma Wines Tasting
Friday 15 May 2026
In a 50-year career built on a lifelong obsession that hasn’t let up, Brian Croser has pioneered wine regions, influenced Australian winemaking and helped shape an entire industry.
He was the first to plant vines in the Adelaide Hill's Piccadilly Valley in 1979, and more recently he’s pushed the grape-growing boundaries into an area of the Fleurieu Peninsula far from any vines, where he saw potential and planted a now-thriving vineyard in 2003. A true trailblazer, mentor and industry leader, these days Brian lives on the very first vineyard he planted, The Tiers Vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley.
Back in 1979 when Brian broke ground in South Australia’s Piccadilly Valley, the premise of planting certain grape varieties in the regions where they were best suited was a revolutionary one. Brian pushed the idea of terroir-driven wine – one of his biggest contributions to Australian wine – and today it’s a widely accepted notion at the heart of all our premium regions.
‘It’s [about] finding the right places and planting them and managing them in the right way and learning from the experience.’ – Brian Croser
Starting his career as a winemaker with Thomas Hardy and Sons in 1969 was an auspicious beginning, and he went on to found a winemaking consultancy and develop the wine science course at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales. As a consultant and an educator, Brian had a huge influence on Australian winemakers in the 1970s and 80s, mentoring up-and-comers and shaping the community. He was Deputy Chancellor of the University of Adelaide for eight years from 1999 and was made a Doctor of the University for his service, having received a similar honour from Charles Sturt University
In the mid-1970s, Brian and his wife Ann launched the Petaluma winery, which went on to become a beacon for modern Australian wineries and wine brands. Petaluma and its vineyards were sold in 2001 but in recent years the Croser family was able to buy the original Petaluma Winery at the bottom of the Tiers Vineyard and rebadge it as Tapanappa Winery. They have always owned the vineyards in the Piccadilly Valley.
So this Friday we will celebrate Petaluma and Brian Croser and a great story or perseverance and commitment to quality in the Australian wine industry.
This is one not to be missed I do hope you can make it and no doubt there will be a surprise or two from the cellar.
On pour tonight:
Petaluma Riesling 2025 Clare Valley
Petaluma Pinot Gris 2024 Adelaide Hills
Petaluma Chardonnay 2025 Adelaide Hills
Petaluma Pinot Noir 2024 Central Otago
Petaluma Merlot 2019 Coonawarra
Petaluma Cabernet Merlot 2018 Coonawarra
Mystery or Two
Wine Tasting Details:
Date: Friday 15 May 2026
When: From 4:30 pm
Where: At our tasting table in our tasting room.
Cheers,
The Strand Cellars Team See less
