Fiona Donald was born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales and attended Hornsby Girls’ High School. After initially contemplating tertiary studies in Science and Food Technology at Sydney University, a magazine article piqued her interest in winemaking. A letter penned to Len Evans resulted in the advice that “Roseworthy is the place to go!” Fiona’s course was set.

In 1988 she commenced study at Roseworthy Agricultural College and was awarded the KT Hardy Memorial Scholarship in 1989 for Performance in the first Year of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Oenology. Fiona graduated in 1991 with the Silver Medal for Second Aggregate.

After graduation she started work with Thomas Hardy and Sons at the Tintara Winery in McLaren Vale as Operations Winemaker and in 1993 became Red Winemaker at Renmano.

In October 1995 Fiona was appointed to the role of Manager/Winemaker at Barossa Valley Estate. Then in October 1997 the opportunity to work at Southcorp Wines (Penfolds) as Senior Red Winemaker beckoned. Fiona moved to the part-time position of Winemaker – Grower Liaison in August 2002.

After a year in Austria, Fiona returned and took up the position of Group Red Winemaker for the Hardy Wine Company, based at Chateau Reynella in October 2007.

But home is the Barossa.

In 2009 Fiona accepted the role of Senior Winemaker at the historic Seppeltsfield Winery and has been part of the resurrection of the Gravity Flow Winery, working alongside Warren Randall and the Seppeltsfield team.

Fiona’s contributions to the Wine Industry and the Barossa Valley include judging at various regional and capital city wine shows over the last 15 years and serving on various committees including the CRC3 Planning Group, Barossa Winemakers Committee, the Barossa Vintage Festival Committee, the tasting panel for Barossa Grounds and convening the Barossa Rare and Distinguished Wine Auction in 2003.

Fiona is currently a member of the Royal Adelaide Wine Show committee, a board member of The Barossa Grape and Wine Association, a Len Evans scholar, panel chair at the Hunter Wine Show, Chair of the Riverland Wine Show and presented at this year’s 16th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference.

Fiona is married with two children and lives on 12 acres of Barossa dirt planted to vineyard producing premium Barossa fruit.