While we are blessed at Evans & Tate with premier vineyards and perfect natural conditions for producing wines, it’s the enduring passion of our people that has allowed Evans & Tate to become the producer of Australia’s favourite Margaret River wines. From our winemakers to our cellar door staff, the Evans & Tate team are committed to crafting and showcasing only the best wines from our vineyards. It’s the reason why Evans & Tate holds such an important place in the hearts of wine lovers across the globe.

Matt Byrne

Senior Winemaker

Matt has been the custodian of Evans & Tate winemaking since 2001 and has played a pivotal role in driving the style and quality of the Evans & Tate award-winning portfolio of wines. Matt is based in Margaret River with his wife and three children and is a passionate surfer, diver and fishing enthusiast. Under his stewardship, Evans & Tate has enjoyed outstanding reviews and wine show success through an emphasis on vineyard site selection and management and continual wine style evolution.

Matt has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science) from Charles Sturt University and an Associate Degree in Viticulture and a Bachelor of Horticulture (Honours) from Curtin University of Technology in WA. He has undertaken 28 vintages across Margaret River and Mildura in Australia; Koelenh in South Africa; and Felton, California in the United States.

Matt’s winemaking mantra is “making grapegrowing the centre of attention to produce charismatic and memorable wines that wine lovers seek out again and again…”

John Fogarty

Chief Viticulturist

John has been the Chief Viticulturist for the Fogarty Wine Group since 2002, overseeing the management of the premium vineyards in Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria and sourcing fruit from select growers. John’s interest in planting and training young vines is coupled with an ardent focus on sustainability and innovation. He is constantly looking at ways to increase fruit quality to ensure the Group’s winemakers can create the best wines possible. John has completed multiple degrees in viticulture and has an unmatched knowledge of each vineyard site.

John has been working with Matt on fruit sourcing and managing the extensive vineyard holdings over many years. Their common goal is to provide the best fruit resource to uphold the legacy of quality and value for money in Evans & Tate wines. At the 2017 Langton's Margaret River Wine Show, John was awarded the prestigious 2017 Viticultural Excellence Award.

Feleasha Prendergast

Winemaker

Having finished her Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology in 2013, Feleasha went on to gain winemaking experience all over the world. Doing back-to-back vintages in Central Otago and Blenheim, New Zealand; California, United States; Okanagan, Canada; Barossa, Australia; and Nordheim, Germany, just to name a few.

Chasing a love of Chardonnay and a passion for white winemaking ultimately led Feleasha to Margaret River. Her first vintage for the Fogarty Wine Group was at Margaret River Vintners where she worked in the cellar and then became the assistant winemaker for three years.

Feleasha has now stepped into an Evans & Tate focused winemaking role allowing her to work with some of the best fruit in Margaret River. She is continuously on the quest to learn, evolve and make the best wine from each given year.

Meet the Winemaker

Matt Byrne