Andrew Pirie is one of Australia's most respected winemakers and has made significant contributions towards the current success of the Australian wine industry. Australia's first PhD in Viticulture and founder of Pipers Brook, Dr Pirie launched Tasmania onto the world wine scene with a bang when his inaugural 1994 Ninth Island Chardonnay took out the white wine trophy at the International Wine Challenge in London. His name still appears on the label of the wine dubbed by Matthew Jukes and others, as 'the greatest sparkling wine ever made outside of Champagne!' Vintage Pirie.

Dr Pirie has received national acclaim for his contributions to the Australian wine industry. In 2001 he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the Tasmanian wine and tourism industries. In recognition of his expertise and flair for innovation he was given the rare honour of being nominated as a finalist in the QANTAS/Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE 2002 and again 2003 Winemaker of the Year Award.

Over the last 2 decades, Andrew Pirie has been the most influential figure in the Tasmanian wine industry, initiating and building Tasmania's largest and most important vineyards and wineries in Tasmania.

Andrew Pirie continues to lead the state industry in producing a dramatic surge of quality Tasmanian wines. These include his own outstanding pinot noirs amongst the impressive vintages of the Pirie South and Pirie Estate labels of his family-owned wine business based in the Tamar Valley.

As Chief Executive and Chief Winemaker of Tamar Ridge, Dr Pirie is overseering the significant expansion of Tasmania's largest wine company with over 300 hectares of vineyards to build a world-best practice wine company.

"I remain passionate about the cool climate wine potential of Tasmania.  It is exciting to be involved in an industry which benefits lifestyle, from its modern inception to consolidation."