Leah Clearwater

With a career of over 27 years in the wine industry, Leah started off with a focus on wine production with a bachelor’s degree in Viticulture & Oenology at Lincoln University in New Zealand and PhD in Viticulture and Oenology in the USA. She worked as a viticulturist in New Zealand, America and Italy before returning to her homeland of Australia to take up a vineyard consultancy role in the Margaret River region. Leah eventually started her own successful vineyard consulting business, and it was during this time that she lectured at Curtin University on viticulture principles and practices, vineyard water management, grapevine pests and diseases and soil science.

Some years ago during the GFC, Leah made the move to Perth to dive into sales and distribution roles, expanding her knowledge of the industry in trade. Subsequent roles saw Leah take up positions as National Sales, Marketing and Export Manager and General Manager with WA wineries. The most recent of these have been based in Margaret River.

Leah has occupied a seat on the board of the Margaret River Wine Association at various times throughout her career, including Vice President and President appointments. She is currently one of the association board of directors and is Chairperson of the MRWA Technical Subcommittee, responsible for overseeing a range of important research projects aimed at a better understanding of the region’s soils and climate and their impact on wine. Leah has been published many times over the years and was recently one of the principal authors of the Margaret River Wine Region Media Kit, a 60-page document which is viewed as being the most comprehensive and compelling piece written on our local region to date.

Leah’s initial years in the production side of the industry, followed by sales, marketing and senior management roles, have afforded her a breadth of experience in wine. She remains passionate about the industry having enjoyed positions within the entire process; from establishing vineyards through to selling the final product.