"Viticultural Paradise": An interview with Steve James

Having provided us with detailed harvest reports throughout February and March, and with all wines safely in the winery and beginning their elevage, Steve James joined us in London to taste a superb range of Voyager Wines. Hearing him talk about Margaret River it is hard not to be seduced by this remote corner of Australia. 3 hours south of Perth, green forests rolling down to the gravel hills and on to the white beaches, sea on three sides and a cooling breeze, good winter rainfall and a consistent, dry and warm late summer harvest period. It is a "viticultural paradise" with croups of well drained, red and brown gravel where each year the winemaking teams compete in a surf contest. It has a certain pull, does it not.

While here Steve organised a masterclass with some of London's top sommeliers, pitting Voyager's wines against the likes of Cos d'Estournel, Sassicaia, Moss Wood, Bonneau de Martray's Corton Charlemagne and Craggy Range Le Sol. Quite a line up. Quite a brave challenge. The results surprised the sommeliers, though not Steve who proved once again that at a fraction of the price his wines really can and do hold their own in exalted company.

Here we ask him how they do it: