Published on: 16 April 2014

Derek Pearse

Derek Pearse (1985) grew up on the family wheat farm at Wubin and started as a boarder at Christ Church in Year 8.  After leaving Christ Church, he decided not to go back to the farm but headed overseas to work out what he wanted to do. Landing a wine retail job in London, he discovered his true passion… wine.  In 1997, Derek started Upper Reach winery in the Swan Valley. The first challenge was growing grapes, then making wine and then developing the cellar, restaurant and accommodation. Derek is winemaker and viticulturalist, making award-winning wines.  Upper Reach’s Swan Valley cellar door and restaurant is a place where people can enjoy a rural experience, taste the wines, walk around the vineyard and meet the people who actually grow the grapes and make the wine. The 1907 cottage has been refurbished to offer idyllic winery weekends just half an hour from Perth. www.upperreach.com.au