Claire Tonon, Voyager Estate 2021 Winner
Claire Tonon might oversee a list of just 30-or-so cuvées from a single-estate winery, but her skill is finding creativity in the limitations. Restricted to Voyager Estate wines, Tonon works with chef Santiago Fernandez to shape the menu from the drinks up, each seasonal degustation harmonised with a tightly selected collection of current vintage and cellared wines. The wines are analysed, the dishes created to match flavour, season and sense of place. The reverse engineering speaks of derring-do and originality, while Tonon’s presence on the floor, easy charm and leadership qualities set an example many could learn from.
