Natalie Fryar
Natalie Fryar
Distiller, Sparkling Wine Maker and Consultant
Driven by the knowledge that Tasmania creates sparkling wines of detail and precision, dubbed “Australia’s Sparkling Queen”, Natalie has devoted her career to crafting exquisite wines. She has over 30 years’ experience making wines from the finest regions in the country, from Margaret River to the Victorian High Country, from Henty to the Barossa, and most in between. That passion led her to Tasmania and in 2015 saw the establishment of Bellebonne: to solely focus on creating Australia’s best sparkling wine.
Natalie grew up in the wine region, completing school work experience with Hardys winery at age 14 and by the age of 16 she did her very first vintage. She has enjoyed a remarkable career taking her all over the world and for 14 years Natalie was the winemaker at Jansz Tasmania, helping to establish it as a leading Australian sparkling wine specialist.
Today she has her own sparkling wine company Bellebonne who is only one of two wineries in Australia to be awarded 7 stars by international renowned wine judge Tyson Stelzer. She also a gin company Abel Gin and consults to numerous wineries, including Pipers Brook Vineyard, Pipers Brook and Ninth Island labels.
In late 2018 Natalie became Rahona Valley’s sparkling wine consultant and in 2019 became the Chief winemaker for the Australian Cuvee Centre.
“What I am always (and still) struck by is the extreme beauty of this island: it is always a breath of fresh air. Every time I fly in, step outside or drive anywhere, I am astounded by the elegance, power and richness of this land. This is what I want my wines to show in every drop. On top of that the community is strong, inviting and always keen to support each other and you can’t build an industry or a company without that.”