Walker Hall Winery
Estate Team
Serious winemaking is necessary in ultra premium wine production and Walker Hall Estate believes in a solid mix of seasoned expertise and youthful exuberance in compiling its team of enologists. Proprietor James Lukezic travelled to his parent’s homeland of Slovenia to source his winemaking staff – a country that lays claim to the oldest productive vineyard in the world and celebrates the world’s oldest grapevine at 400 yrs old. Eventually Mr. Lukezic teamed up with well known central European wine expert and seasoned enologist Dr. Friderick Vodopivec, the two developed the Walker Hall Estate.
Dr. Friderik Vodopivec
Chief Enologist
Dr Vodopivec graduated from the University of Ljubljana’s Biotechnical Faculty in 1971 and eventually went on to complete his Doctorate degree at the same school. Further education abroad includes the Istituto professionale per l’agricoltura, in Padova, Italy.Dr. Vodopivec has over 35 years of work experience in managerial positions as an oenologist, development manager, and Director. Over the course of his career he participated in 8 research projects and belongs to the followings memberships:
- president of the Assembly of Commerce for Viniculture and Oenology of the Republic of Slovenia, 1983-1984
- president of the Republic Commission for the Assessment of Wines at KVZ Nova Gorica, since 1995
- President of the Commission of Viticulture in Assessing of Domestic Wines - Gornja Radgona, since 1995
- Member of the International Commission for the Assessment of Wines, since 1983
- Member of the Expert Committee of the International Viticulture Fair in Ljubljana, since 1992
- Member of the Viticultural Association of the Republic of Slovenia, since 1975
- Member of the Expert Group for Senzoric Assessment of Wines
- Member of the International Association of Oenologists
Dr Vodopivec has also written several publications including 2 expert book, 36 expert reports, 6 original scientific articles, 84 expert articles, has published 6 summary of lecture articles, delivered reports on scientific research 4 times, and has participated as a lecturer at 3 scientific symposiums.
Mr. Miran Buzinel
Enologist
Mr. Buzinel was born in the border town of Sempeter pri Gorici which straddles the Slovenian/Italian Border. Mr. Buzinel went on to graduate from the University of Ljubljana’s Biotechnical Faculty (Food Science and technology department with a specialization in enology). Miran grew up in the wine business, his family owning a winery in the Brda-Collio region. His experience includes time at Carmen Winery in Maipo Valley Chile, working on a full time basis at Borgo del Tiglio Winery (Friuli-Collio, Italy) and at Victorian Alps Winery in Australia’s Cool Climate region of King Valley.
