Interview with John Glaetzer [transcript] Interviewer: Rob Linn

John Glaetzer, born at Whyalla in 1948, completed his secondary education at Adelaide Technical High School on North Terrace. He won the first Commonwealth Scholarship to Roseworthy Agricultural College for oenology. Whilst still at school, he assisted with the 1966/67 vintage at Norman's Underdale winery where Wolf Blass was employed. The grapes came from Angle Vale. Even then, John Glaetzer had a fine palate which Wolf Blass recognised. John reminisced about the staff, students and courses he studied at Roseworthy. After graduation, he worked for one vintage with John Vickery at Leo Burings before moving to TST, now Tollana, with Wolf Blass. Together they turned TST from a fortified maker into a top table wine maker. In 1974, John Glaetzer made his first his first vintage of John's Blend which he is still making for his own company. The strength of this interview is John Glaetzer's detailed explanation of blending, and the differences between grapes from different areas. His own preference is for grapes from Langhorne Creek. In 1975, John Glaetzer moved to Bilyara to work for Wolf Blass. There he worked with the prize winning Jimmy Watson wines. John reminisced about winemakers he knew. This interview concentrates upon John Glaetzer's busy working life, where he makes wine and keeps out of politics. His own business makes John's Blend Cabernet and Margarethe's Shiraz. In his opinion, grapes are getting better and winemakers understand the importance of pH control. He is an enthusiastic supporter of TAFE courses for cellar hands. John concludes with his evaluation of the cycles in the wine industry

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