The heartbreaking final post from award-winning Aussie winemaker before he died in mystery fire near his vineyard

The final post to social media from a celebrated South Australian winemaker has been flooded with tributes after he died in a house fire.

The body of Peter Fraser, 51, was found inside the charred remains of his $1.3million home on Chalk Hill Road in Clarendon, in the Adelaide Hills, on Thursday afternoon.

Police are not treating the fire as suspicious but it has not been revealed how it started.

Just hours earlier, Mr Fraser, who was crowned Australian Winemaker of the Year in 2015, had shared a photo to Instagram of a $400 bottle of Corton-Charlemagne white wine with the caption ‘Might be the best wine I’ve ever drunk’.

The post has since turned into a digital memorial for Mr Fraser’s loved ones and the Austarlian wine community.

Mr Fraser’s winery, Yangarra Estate Vineyard, shared its own tribute on Friday, writing that the team was ‘devastated’.

‘For more than 25 years, Pete was the driving force behind Yangarra and was an incredible winemaker, thought leader, mentor, and a defining voice in the industry. All of us who had the privilege of working with him are devastated by this loss.

‘He was deeply loved, and his legacy is profound. Our thoughts are with his family and with the many friends whose lives he touched. We ask our community to keep his loved ones in their thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.’

Yangarra Estate Vineyard has temporarily closed in the wake of Mr Fraser’s death. It is not known when the winery will reopen.

Sommelier Leanne Altmann wrote: ‘Always such humour and warmth, with incredible insight – I always learned so much from listening to him. Raising a glass to you Pete.’

Wine reviewer Erin Larkin said: ‘Devastated. There were so many great wines and conversations yet to be shared with Pete. Sending love to his family.’  

Mr Fraser leaves behind his wife, family lawyer Tessa Hume, whom he married in 2017.

The couple have two children – Jack, eight, and Poppy, six. Mr Fraser was also the stepfather of two more sons.

His social media was largely dedicated to his family with dozens of posts praising his wife’s achievements, showing off memorable holidays and capturing fun moments with his kids.

On top of his happy family life, Mr Fraser was famously successful in wine making – particularly with his grenache.

His 2021 Yangarra Old Vine Grenache won Halliday wine of the year in 2024 and his High Sands Grenache 2016 won the same title in 2020.