| Peter Lehmann | |
| Location | Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1979 |
| Key people | Peter Lehmann |
| Cases/yr | 200,000[1] |
| Known for | Stonewell Shiraz |
| Varietals | Shiraz, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot |
| Website | http://www.peterlehmannwines.com |
Peter Lehmann (born 18 August 1930 at Angaston, South Australia in Barossa Valley)[2] is an Australia wine producer based in the Barossa Valley. In 1947, he started work at the Yalumba winery under Rudi Kronberger.[3] From 1960 to 1980 he was Winemaker/Manager at Saltram Wines.[3] In 1977, the company instructed Peter to buy less grapes from the growers. Since Peter had given the growers his word to buy the grapes, he refused. After months of negotiations with Dalgety plc which owned Saltram Peter, he was allowed to start an outside company called Masterson Barossa Vineyards in order to buy the grapes.[4] The inspiration of the name came from the legendary gambler Sky masterson (see Guys and Dolls) and as the logo for the company the Queen of Clubs was chosen. In 1979 Saltram was sold to Seagram which informed Peter that he could no longer make wine on the side, so he quit his job at Saltram and worked fully for the future Peter Lehmann wine. In 1982 the company was renamed Peter Lehmann Wines. It is located in the Barossa Valley, approximately 70 kilometres north of Adelaide in South Australia.[5] Peter Lehmann Wines has been described as one of Australia's most respected and innovative wine makers.[6] His success in winning international trophies has been noted by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.[7]
Founded in 1979, Peter Lehmann Wines produces around 600,000 cases annual with distribution to Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and many other countries. In late 2003 it became the subject of a heated bidding war between UK-based Allied Domecq and Swiss based Hess Group. Allied Domecq had acquired 14.5% of Peter Lehmann Wines when it first submitted a takeover bid on 22 September. Peter Lehmann and the board of directors countered by recommending sale to the Hess Group instead. Hess matched the Allied Domecq offer and purchased the company for shareholder of $103 million USD.[8]