CELEBRATED winemaker Gavin Hogg, a favourite son of Merbein, has lost his battle with cancer, dying at the age of 70.

The winner of the nation's highest wine-industry accolade, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy, Mr Hogg grew up at Yelta and, despite moving to South Australia as a young man to further his career, he maintained a strong bond with the town on Pump Hill and remained a financial suppor...