Jim Chatto Returns to Pepper Tree Wines as Consultant Winemaker

With over three decades of winemaking experience, Jim Chatto is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most accomplished and respected winemakers. A former Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year (2019) and Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year (2009), Jim returns to Pepper Tree Wines in a formal consulting role, bringing both deep knowledge and a rich legacy with the brand.

Jim served as Chief Winemaker at Pepper Tree from 2007 to 2014, a tenure that helped define the house style and cemented the winery’s national reputation for quality. Under his guidance, Pepper Tree collected numerous accolades, including multiple trophies for Best Red Wine at both the Hunter Valley and Limestone Coast Wine Shows.

In his return, Jim will work closely with Managing Director John Davis, supporting the next chapter of Pepper Tree’s evolution across its vineyards in the Hunter Valley, Orange, Coonawarra, and Wrattonbully. The team will also produce the winery’s first Barossa wine in 2025, using fruit from Kruger’s 100-year-old family vineyard.

Beyond Pepper Tree, Jim is the founder of his own acclaimed Tasmanian label, Chatto Wines, and formerly held the role of Group Chief Winemaker at McWilliam’s Wines. A Len Evans Tutorial Scholar and highly respected wine show judge, he has chaired some of Australia’s most prestigious wine shows.

Jim’s return is marked by the re-release of his celebrated 2013 reds - critically lauded wines that continue to underscore his enduring influence on Pepper Tree’s legacy.

We're thrilled to have Jim on board!