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"I remember also, some of the grape harvesting and
wine making processes. I remember the family press, which was
basically a basket press, at the base of an ancient cherry tree. A
rather heavy timber pole was wedged under the base of the tree and it
was used as leverage to press the must in the basket. A simple system,
but it did the job."
"Wine was stored in oak barrels in the basement of our
house. I remember them well. They were stacked just below the
staircase to the cellar. The darn thing didn't have any side railing
and I remember on one occasion falling off the staircase and landing
fairly and squarely on top of one of the barrels."
"My uncle was a carpenter/cabinet maker. As part of
his business he did some cooperage. As a lad until the age of 8 years,
I'd spend time in his workshop helping him, I thought!! My favourite
pastime was using the ½ moon plane to shave the inside of the
barrels before he gave them a light toast. I often got a toasting
from him myself when I shaved them too deep!!"
"Wine was part of our culture. We have a family
heirloom of a rather unique flask carved out of wood by my great
grandfather for his betrothed, some hundred years or so ago. It
carried approximately 750 mls, and was still in use until we migrated
to Australia in 1957."
"In Australia, I always helped my dad with his home
made wine each vintage. When I got married in 1976, I started making
wine for my own use, but I steered away from the old ways and started
bringing into the picture SO², cultured yeasts, anti oxidation
control methods and hygiene. The results for some years has been quite
remarkable."
"Together with my parents in 1978, I purchased a 5
acre property in Bacchus Marsh. Within the first 12 months, I planted
125 black Muscat vines, from which I am still making 800-1000 litres
of wine a year. We are currently using the grapes as the base for our
Lawsons' Patch Rosé."
"With the commencement of our commercial operations in
2000, and after undergoing a 4 year wine making course, we are now
producing wines of a caliber of which we can be truly proud. For the
2006 vintage, we have engaged a full time winemaker, and we look
forward to bigger and better things in the future."
"Our white wines, which are in the process of being
bottled, are showing great promise. They are fresh, crisp wines, with
alcohol levels lower than last year's. They are classy, elegant wines,
which will be enjoyed more for their aromas and flavours, than for
their alcohol content."
"Our cool climate reds are high in flavour, character
and deep colour intensity. Of our Cabernet Sauvignon, James Halliday,
said it is a "massively powerful and extremely rustic" - "striking
wine".
"Our winery is built to accommodate a 100 tonne crush
but could handle up to 300 tonne. We have about 1300 square metres of
undercover warehouse space." |
