Winemaker
Adam Wadewitz
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Adelaide Hills, Australia
i. Biography
Adam Wadewitz is Joint CEO of Shaw + Smith, a position earned through a stepwise build across cellar work, senior winemaking, and business leadership. The path reads as accumulation rather than leap: practical work first, then broader responsibility, then oversight of the producer as a whole.
Coming Up
In the early run of his career, Adam Wadewitz held winemaking roles at Best's and Seppelt before moving to Senior Winemaker at Shaw + Smith from 2013. That sequence matters in wine because cellar judgment is usually built by repetition, not by title; the progression here shows time spent across different houses before stepping into a larger remit. At Shaw + Smith, the shift to Senior Winemaker in 2013 marked the point where technical work and strategic input began to sit side by side. From there, the line continued upward to Joint CEO. In practical terms, that means the same experience that informs the wines also informs the decisions around the business. Wadewitz's career at Shaw + Smith has therefore moved from making wine to helping guide the producer, with each role adding scope without breaking continuity.
Where They Are Now
Today, Wadewitz serves as Joint CEO there. The role places him in shared control of the producer while still carrying the perspective of a working winemaker, which is what gives the title its weight inside a wine business. It is leadership shaped by time in the cellar and by long familiarity with the house.
Signature
Adam's signature wines include Tolpuddle Chardonnay, Tolpuddle Pinot Noir, Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc, Shaw + Smith Shiraz, and Shaw + Smith Pinot Noir. Read together, these wines point to a broad but controlled register: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at Tolpuddle, and the core Shaw + Smith bottlings in Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir. The list places Wadewitz inside the established language of these houses, where varietal expression and consistency carry as much importance as title.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Adam
What is Adam Wadewitz's current role?
As of 2026, Adam Wadewitz is Joint CEO.
Where did Adam Wadewitz work before?
Adam Wadewitz's earlier career included Best's, Seppelt, and Shaw + Smith.
