Rod Hooper is one of Australia's most accomplished young winemakers with over 20 vintages under his belt by the age of 40. Rod's first vintage was with Penfold's Wines in 1980. After graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Oenology) from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1984, he gained international winemaking experience with vintages in California, France and Germany.
Rod was the first technically qualified winemaker to work in Queensland and in 1986 he was awarded the Young Rural Queenslander of the Year Award for his contribution to the Queensland Wine Industry via his employment with Ballandean Estate in the Granite Belt.
He worked in the Queensland Wine Industry for four years and has maintained an interest with winemaking in the Sunshine State ever since. In 1992 he was invited to judge the Queensland Sheraton Wine Awards and has judged at many regional and national wine shows over the years.
Rod also worked in Western Australia for Goundrey Wines between 1987-1989 and was responsible for overseeing the construction and establishment of their new winemaking facility at Langton near Mt. Barker in the states south west.
In 1989 he took the position as Operations Manager for The Department of Commercial Operations at Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga in NSW. Whilst at the University (over a seven year period) the wines made by Rod were awarded 15 trophies, 25 Gold, 47 Silver and 139 Bronze medals at National and Regional wine shows Australia wide. The winery was The Most Successful Smallwinemaker in Australia on three occasions and runner-up for two from 1990 to 1996 at the National Smallwinemakers Show. He also taught winemaking and viticulture production to students enrolled in the diploma and degree courses for wine science and viticulture.
In 1996 Rod returned home to South Australia to establish his own winery and vineyards at Macaw Creek in the Gilbert Valley. From the end of 1996 to mid 1998 he was employed as a senior winemaker with BRL Hardy Wines based at Leasingham in the neighboring Clare Valley.
Rod's winery and vineyards at Macaw Creek have been established on property that has been in the family for 5 generations. The cellar door and winery have been built in beautifully restored stables that were constructed in the 1880's. 2.5 hectares of vineyard was originally planted in 1995. The first harvest from these vines was completed in 1998 with some pleasing results. Rod's first attempt at a reserve blend of shiraz and cabernet from his Macaw Creek fruit won a gold medal at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show and received a nomination for the prestigious George Mackey Trophy for Australia's finest exported wine.
It is Rod's vision to reestablish Macaw Creek and the Gilbert Valley as an important South Australian, premium wine growing region. Experienced as both viticulturalist and winemaker, Rod as Chairman of the Gilbert Valley Wine Grape Growers Association, is well qualified in assisting the region in establishing a unique identity as the only wine growing region in South Australia dedicated to growing Rhone varietal grapes using organic methods.
Rod's wine making philosophy at Macaw Creek begins in the vineyard where the least amount of intervention possible is applied to the growing of terroir suited grapes of the highest quality to create wines that are elegant with clean ripe fruit expression and definitive pallet structure.
This results in wines that are not only easy to drink when young, but can also be cellared with confidence.