Hello World, I am Paul Smart.
Wino since 1999.
Failed beach volleyball player.
Came for a holiday to Tasmania, never left.
My first degree after high school was a double major in Chemistry (why I still don’t know), but my focus during uni was on the beaches of Queensland playing volleyball. That didn’t go well and I sought a more lucrative career. That lead me to using my chemistry degree in a winery lab in the vintage of 1999. From there it was vintages in Mudgee, Tuscany, Pyrenees (Victoria) and Echuca, as well as a Degree in Wine and Viticulture.
Then in December 2005, I went on a holiday to Tasmania. It was amazing and left an impression. I spent two weeks driving around the entire state tasting every wine. I was hooked. I went back to Echuca with only one thing on my mind, get a job in Tasmania.
That job was a cellar hand at Winemaking Tasmania for the 2006 vintage, which led to securing the position as Viticulturist and Winemaker for Pressing Matters, a position I held for ten years. That was a great time, learning all about cool climate viticulture and growing some fantastic grapes. Pressing Matters now no longer enters wine shows, but when we did we won more trophies than shows entered. An amazing achievement.
I have been working for Wine Tasmania as the Viticulture and Winemaking Officer since 2016.
And my side gig is helping my wife with Quiet Mutiny. (apart from running ultramarathons…)
I have been in this state 2006, love it, and will never leave.
Cheers
Vineyard Paul (Paul Smart)