A SERVICE late last year celebrated and remembered Peter Talijancich as a loving husband and father, and an icon of the Swan Valley.
With more than 75 years’ experience in the wine industry, it may come as a surprise that Peter’s first love was actually the ocean.
Peter’s son James Talijancich said his dad wanted to be a fisherman but Peter’s mum didn’t allow him to because she thought the land was safer than the water.
Despite abandoning his dream of being a fisherman, Peter still made time for the ocean when he could.
“He was a very peaceful and very different person in the water,” James said.
Growing up in Croatia and being near the Adriatic Sea, James said the ocean was part of Peter’s DNA.
At 13 years old, Peter’s dad died, which forced him to leave high school early to work at his family’s vineyard.
In addition, Peter also started working part-time at Houghton with Jack Mann to further support the family income.
“His hands showed the years of hard work and dedication to the land,” James said.
With his mother making wine for local customers, Peter often visited a gentleman named Jack Hrabar across the river, with the excuse of barrels that needed repair.
It turned out Peter wasn’t after the barrels – he was after Mr Hrabar’s very attractive young daughter, Mary.
Peter and Mary married, had four children, 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren with more to come.
Despite spending some weeks working all seven days at the vineyard, James said his parents still made time for friends and family.
Throughout their children’s youth, Peter and Mary encouraged Dianne, Carol, Kaye and James to play sport.
Peter was responsible for dropping off and picking up the kids, but he didn’t mind.
He said it was important to give time for each other.
In 1986, Peter’s 1961 Liqueur Muscat was awarded the best wine in the world at a London competition.
He was emotional and proud of this award because the wine was made using local fruit from Swan Valley.
James remembered when he was young and learning how to make wine, he asked his dad many questions of what, why and how.
To which Peter replied, “That’s just the way it is, you’ll know when it’s right.
“He had a sixth sense when it came to decision-making about techniques and blending,” James said.
“He felt connected to the changes and the different process each season brought.”
This sixth sense wasn’t limited to his winemaking, Peter made it part of his everyday life.
“Following your instinct and heart is a vital way of living,” he told James.