Pernod Ricard’s Champagne house, G.H. Mumm, has appointed Trina Smith as Mumm Terroirs Pacific winemaker, overseeing all winemaking for the Australian and New Zealand portfolio.
The Mumm Terroirs collection celebrates prestigious wine regions known for producing exceptional pinot noir, building on Maison Mumm’s 200-year history of crafting pinot noir forward wines. Pernod Ricard stated each of the sparkling wines in the series celebrate a region’s true sense of place and unique terroir.
Although Pernod Ricard Winemakers’ BrandCo division was acquired in May by recently established global wine business, Vinarchy, Mumm told F&DB that the Mumm Terroirs collection of wines will continue to be distributed by Pernod Ricard.
Although the Mumm Pacific ANZ division was already established, the role of Pacific winemaker is a new one. Pernod Ricard stated Jamie Marfell made the New Zealand sparkling wines previously, and he has now gone across to Vinarchy.
With more than two decades of winemaking experience, Smith is recognised as one of Australia’s leading sparkling wine specialists, with her wines having received multiple international and local accolades.
In 2022, she led the inaugural Mumm Terroirs winemaking team to launch Mumm Tasmania Prestige Brut – a runaway success that showcased Tasmania’s cool-climate terroir and pinot noir, a cornerstone of Maison Mumm’s 200-year history.
The Mumm Terroirs collection also includes Mumm Marlborough Prestige Brut, Mumm Marlborough Brut Rosé and Mumm Central Otago Blanc de Noirs.
While Smith continues to be based in the Barossa Valley working closely with G.H. Mumm’s Chef de Cave and local grape growers across Australia, she will make the New Zealand wines in Marlborough.
“I’m thrilled to step into this role and continue building on Mumm’s legacy in Australasia,” said Smith.
“My focus will be on crafting wines that truly express the character of our region, Marlborough, Central Otago and Tasmania are world-renowned cool-climate regions, producing sparkling wines of exceptional finesse, energy and character and I look forward to shining an international light on our sparkling wines.”
