Get To Know Senior Winemaker Emma Gillespie
Following the completion of Emma Gillespie's 10th vintage at Deep Woods Estate, we thought it was well overdue to do an introductory blog on our incredible Senior Winemaker & Cellar Manager.
Emma's career began in 2011, after completing a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at Curtin University. She then gained experience in Tasmania and in the United States working for high-end, small-batch producers.
Emma's passion for winemaking and the Margaret River region was immediately obvious when she joined the Deep Woods Estate team as a cellar hand in 2015. Her expertise was quickly recognised and she was appointed Assistant Winemaker that very same year.
After two years as our Assistant Winemaker, in 2017 Emma was appointed Winery Operations Manager and then in 2023 she became our Senior Winemaker & Cellar Manager.
Emma has championed Deep Woods Estate since day one, crafting our award-winning wines alongside Chief Winemaker Julian Langworthy and Senior Winemaker & Winery Operations Manager Matt Buchan. Her dedication and passion are next to none, and we are very lucky to have her as such an integral part of our team.
Not only is Emma a weapon in the winery, but she is also making her name in the local judging scene and has been involved with the Perth Royal Wine Awards since 2016. In 2020 she accepted the role of senior judge at the Wine Show of Western Australia and has also judged in the Swan Valley and Perth Hills Wine Shows.
We asked Emma what her favourite wines were:
"My favourite of all time would have to be Chardonnay (white Burgundy or Margaret River powerhouses) and flinty Grower Champagnes, but I do love coming across an expressive, spicy and fruit laden Pinot Noir too. Pinot reminds me of early career experiences, like the vibrancy and freshness of the Fatal Shores Pinot from Tasmania."
Her favourite hobbies outside of winemaking:
"Walking on the bush trails along the Margaret River, cooking and having dinner parties with my amazing friends and trips to Perth to watch the footy with my dad."
Thank you for all you do Emma! It's been the best 10 years and we can't wait for many more to come.
