Trevor Drayton
Encyclopedia
Trevor Drayton was an Australia
n winemaker
, frequently described as an "icon" of the Australian wine
industry. Drayton's Wines have been in the industry since 1853.
First educated at Cessnock High School, he studied oenology
at the Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia, being dux in his final year there in 1978. His wine memberships include being president of the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association for four years and treasurer for ten and a member of the Winemakers' Federation of Australia's small winemakers' membership committee for five years.
Drayton died in an explosion at the Drayton's family winery in Oakey Creek Road, Pokolbin
, in the Lower Hunter Valley region of New South Wales
, Australia
. The blast reportedly demolished a 20-meter brick wall and blew away parts of the building up to 50 meters. Both Drayton and a contractor, Eddie Orgo, were killed in the explosion. William Rikard-Bell survived suffering burns to more than 80% of his body; William continued working with the Draytons until 2011. It is believed workmen were using welding equipment when ethanol vapors contained in a large metal tank ignited, ultimately destroying the winery.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n winemaker
Winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:*Cooperating with viticulturists...
, frequently described as an "icon" of the Australian wine
Australian wine
The Australian Wine Industry is the fourth largest exporter of wine around the world, with 760 million litres a year to a large international export market and contributes $5.5 billion per annum to the nation's economy...
industry. Drayton's Wines have been in the industry since 1853.
First educated at Cessnock High School, he studied oenology
Oenology
Oenology,[p] œnology , or enology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting, which is a subfield called viticulture. “Viticulture & oenology” is a common designation for training programmes and research centres that include both the...
at the Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia, being dux in his final year there in 1978. His wine memberships include being president of the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association for four years and treasurer for ten and a member of the Winemakers' Federation of Australia's small winemakers' membership committee for five years.
Drayton died in an explosion at the Drayton's family winery in Oakey Creek Road, Pokolbin
Pokolbin, New South Wales
Pokolbin is a rural locality in the Hunter Region of New South Wales Australia. It is part of the Singleton Shire Council Local Government Area and the city of Cessnock. The area is the centre of the Lower Hunter Valley wine region...
, in the Lower Hunter Valley region of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The blast reportedly demolished a 20-meter brick wall and blew away parts of the building up to 50 meters. Both Drayton and a contractor, Eddie Orgo, were killed in the explosion. William Rikard-Bell survived suffering burns to more than 80% of his body; William continued working with the Draytons until 2011. It is believed workmen were using welding equipment when ethanol vapors contained in a large metal tank ignited, ultimately destroying the winery.