As featured in SCOOP Magazine Autumn 2008 Edition
Written by Rod Properjohn
JASON’S FAVOURITES
Jason, a regular on the Scoop wine tasting panel, has a few favourite tipples:
Local: Picardy Chardonnay from Pemberton
Australian: Anything from Rockford in the Barossa, especially the Basket Press Shiraz
Imported: Billecart-Salmon Rose Champagne
AS A YOUNGSTER, a rosy-cheeked olive-skinned Jason Conti was always hanging around the Conti winery just north of Perth and he nurtured an interest in wine from an early age. He lived on site with his
family, so there was no way of escaping it.
During his formative teenage years however, other interests took on a higher priority than wine. There was music and girls, and the hard work on the property was better left to parents Paul (vineyard/winery) and Anne (cellar door/admin).
On finishing high school however, Jason began a wine marketing course at Roseworthy in SA, this reigniting his interest in wine. He was all set to continue on to a winemaking degree when he was asked by some college mates to join a band.
Simple decision really; the young Conti was soon rocking ‘n’ rolling around Adelaide and sweating over the skins (drums were his instrument of choice) instead of wine books.
He eventually moved back to Perth in 1991, helping his father with winemaking, soon becoming skilled in all facets of wine, backing this up with vintages in the Rhone Valley (France) and Tuscany (Italy).
As in most father/son winemaking relationships there was some angst with the changing of the guard.
The older generation invariably wants to stick with what it knows and keep a tight reign on the purse strings, and the youngsters are pro experimentation and spending on new equipment. In most cases, a compromise is the solution, and Jason sums it up perfectly.
“My aim was to keep our style of wines consistent with past traditions, yet achieve more elegance and refinement.” In saying that, he is now interested in the new varieties tempranillo, sangiovese and pinot-gris, and is keen to expand the range of wines he makes.
Jason presently is full-time in the winery, leaving dad to attend to the vineyards where he is much happier.
The young Conti has a simple philosophy. “I’m fascinated by the relationship between vineyard and winery, and try to make wines that are inviting, thought-provoking and reflective of our region.”
The family will soon have two regions to reflect on, as it has bought a property in Margaret River and is geared to plant its first vines there this year, but in the meantime is concentrating on its warmer climate vineyards in Wanneroo and Yanchep.
Most sandgropers have a fondness for Paul Conti Wines, especially the Mariginiup Shiraz, Chenin Blanc and Conti Fronti. With Jason in charge of grape treading, there is no reason why that should diminish.
And with a couple of new wines around the corner, there may be a few more converts.