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The wine world is mourning the death of Trevor Mast, a legend of the Australian wine industry. A pioneer of Victorian cool-climate viticulture, he helped cement the Grampians as a premium wine region. He was best known as the producer of Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz and the creator of the Four Sisters brand, named after his four daughters.
Trevor began his career in wine at the age of 20. While working as a lab assistant at Gilbey’s Gin distillery in Melbourne, he was sent to the Southern Vale Winery in South Australia for a month. The trip proved to be a seminal event, as he realised that winemaking was his true calling. After completing a 4 year degree in viticulture and winemaking in Geisenheim Germany in the early 1970’s, he worked for Stellenbosch Farmers Winery (SFW). Upon his return to Australia he took up work first at Seppelts and then at Bests Great Western where he worked for 12 years. While at Bests, he consulted to the Fratin brothers whose Langi vineyards were producing fruit of outstanding quality.
Inspired by the vineyard’s potential, Trevor and his wife Sandra purchased the small property from the Fratin brothers in 1987. Passionate and driven, Trevor set about running the vineyards and making the wine. Often working 7 days a week, he established Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz as a producer of exceptional cool-climate Shiraz. The wine soon garnered much praise and attention and featured in the mid-nineties on the cover of Wine Spectator magazine alongside Australia’s two iconic Shiraz wines; Penfold’s Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace. In 2000 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz was included in the Langton’s Classification of Australian wine III, and is listed in the current Langton’s Classification of Australian wine V.
Alongside the day to day running of the winery, Trevor also found time to travel widely both interstate and overseas promoting Mount Langi Ghiran, and was a respected judge on the wine show circuit. In late 2002 the property was sold to the Rathbone family. Trevor continued as head winemaker until 2003, when winemaker Dan Buckle took over the reins.
In 2006 Trevor was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers at the age of 57. That same year he and Sandra decided to retire to move closer to their family in Melbourne.
“Trevor Mast is not only a legend of the Australian industry but also a pioneer of Victorian cool-climate viticulture having produced wines that we will all enjoy for years to come,” said Stewart Langton, General Manager of Langton's
Andrew Caillard, MW, said "Trevor Mast was one of the Australian Wine Industry's important contemporary pioneers. Skilled winemaking, an intuitive feeling of place, family and a sense of history all played a part in the Mount Langi Ghiran story. We all loved his wines because they were so authentic and beautiful. There are more than just a few Australian winemakers and collectors who felt that his Langi Shiraz, possessed a uniquely distinctive voice. In a great year it could outshine other classics like Penfolds Grange or Henschke Hill of Grace. Trevor achieved plenty of recognition in his lifetime. He was a visionary sadly cut down in his prime, but his wine and reputation as one of our finest winemakers will live on.
Trevor leaves behind his wife Sandra, his four daughters, and six grandchildren.
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