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Wally Zuk 
Wally grew up and went to high school in a small gold mining town in northwestern Quebec. Too lazy to go to work for a living he went on to university, ultimately stretching it out to earn a PhD in nuclear physics. Halfway through PhD studies, he met and married an Australian, Judy. This brought him to the Australian National University in 1968 as a visiting Research fellow for three years in the Department of Nuclear Physics. There, where the "Keeper of the Wine Cellar" at University House introduced him to Henschke's 1967 Hill of Grace was where interest in wine began.
Returning to Canada for 20 years the interest continued to grow, became a passion and ultimately triggered a latent insanity gene that said "Wouldn't it be nice to have your own vineyard and winery in your declining years?". Recruited to be the Director of the Environmental Science Research Division at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation was the excuse that brought him back to Australia dn the purchase of the original Oakridge Estate home block bineyard and winery in 1995. He took early retirement from ANSTO in mid 1999 to become a full time "Gentleman Winemaker"! (His former ANSTO colleagues questioned and laughed at the "Gentleman bit!!).
We asked Wally a little about himself and his wines...
What or who inspired you to become a winemaker?
Tasting the 1967 Henschke Hill of Grace in 1970 at a University House at the Australian National University. It was fantastic!
What was the first wine you tasted?
Growing up in Northern Quebec, wine made by my father from Californian table grapes - looking back, it was awful!!
Favourite grape variety / wine style to make?...Cabernet Sauvignon that is very approachable when young and yet with good ageing ability.
What was your first job in a winery?...None before we bought ours and leased it back to Oakridge - Michael Z making me crawl under the press at midnight to clean it!
What do you most like about what you do?
The freedom to make wines I like and how I like them without being dicated to on style by shareholders!
Other than wine, what interests you?...Skiing; golf (I'm a hacker); reading; canoeing on pristine Canadian lakes; sharing good food with family and friends.
What's your favourite meal during vintage?...Beef bourguignon with thick crusty bread and a glass or two of Bunello di Montalcino or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Most memorable food and wine experience?
Lunch at the Michelin three star Auberge d'lll restaurant in Illhaeusem in Alsace.
What direction do you see the Yarra Valley taking in the future?
More emphasis on promoting regionality aspects of Yarra Valley wines across a range of varieties without trying to pin reputation on one or two.
At home I cook?...pancakes (with Cognac in the batter, of course!) drizzled with butter and real Canadian maple syrup.
My favourite book is..."The Boat Who Wouldn't Float" by Farley Mowatt
My favourite work of art is...a watercolour painting of a winter scene near Mt Tremlent in Quebec by old friend and university classmate Charles Spratt.
If I hadn't become a winemaker, I would have... most likely settled in British Columbia, bought an ocean going sailboat and bummed around islands of the Caribbean or the Sourth Pacific.
To learn more about Wally Zuk and the wines he produces, go to www.fiveoaks.com.au
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