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Graeme Melton and a mate were travelling across South Australia in 1973, their EH Holden was in dire need of maintenance and Graeme took up casual work at a passing winery. The site supervisor was Peter Lehmann and young Graeme had his epiphany on the road to Barossa Valley. Lehmann suggested that Graeme change his name to Charlie and take the pilgrimmage to Vallee Rhone. Charlie became prepossessed with the culture of old vines Grenache, Shiraz and Mourverdre. He returned to the Barossa, at a time when old vineyard fruit was made into flagon Port and growers were destroying their historic sites in return for government grants. Charlie emabarked on a crusade to conserve and restore the ancient vines, establishing his cellars at Tanunda along Krondorf Road. He has since retained the most precious parcels, once destined for the logger's axe, they are now the genesis of fruit.. Melton makes a mean mourvedre»
Jim Barry was a pioneer of the Australian wine industry, the first academically qualified winemaker to take up Clare Valley viticulture in 1949. He had an uncanny intuition for good land and established some of the most illustrious vineyards on the continent. Jim Barry is also a patriarch of the Coonawarra, in pursuit of the perfect terroir for Cabernet Sauvignon, he planted vines on the ancient Penola Cricket Oval, preserving the original pavilion for posterity. Jim Barry endures as one of the nation's most distinguished brands, renowned throughout the world of wine for decades of the most remarkable vintages, an evolving range of superior vineyard editions, defined by their penetrating fruit and seamless tannins, essential for every enthusiast of identifiably Australian, claret style Cabernet.. Salient statements from superior sites»
Delatite
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Delatite
Delatite Winery is a medium sized family-run operation that was established in 1982 by Robert and Vivienne Ritchie

Specialising in cool climate wines, especially the aromatics, it is sited on a picturesque rise overlooking the vineyards toward Mt Buller in North-east Victoria. As custodians of the land since the late nineteenth century, the Ritchie family is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and winemaking with integrity. Visit the Delatite cellar door if you are ever in the district, and sample the award-winning wines.

Delatite

Delatite Winery began in the late nineteenth century, when Geoffrey Ritchie left the western part of Victoria to look for greener pastures. He intended traveling to Queensland, but fell in love with the fertile valley of Mansfield in the shadow of the snow-capped mountains, and settled on the banks of the Delatite River.

It was Geoffrey's grandson Robert who with his wife Vivienne first planted vines in 1968. The story goes that Robert was having a drink and a chat with a wine maker from Hardy's at nearby Mt Buller one evening, and a week later 3000 cuttings arrived on the door, somewhat to his astonishment. They planted them on the steep ironstone based slopes surrounding their house and added their care to the rest of the farm work. Ten years, and several hectares, later they were joined in the business by their daughter Ros, one of the first female winemaking graduates of Roseworthy College in South Australia, and the winery was built.

The effect Delatite had on the new breed of wineries was immediate. The first vintage won gold at the shows and they quickly rose to become an Australian benchmark for cool-climate white wines, especially in Riesling and Gewurztraminer. Not long after, their second son David came on board to help his father in the vineyard and his mother with the selling.

Delatite

But it wasn't all plain sailing, by a long shot. Sticking to their belief that the wines should be showpieces for their new winegrowing area has often meant tough times, great sacrifices and relentless hard work.

Twenty years later and their efforts have paid off. Their successful and productive winery has a reputation both here and abroad for producing some of the finest aromatic whites in Australia, elegant Bordeaux style reds and their critically acclaimed Demelza sparkling wine. In keeping with the family's commitment to the land and their environment, they have recently introduced biodynamic practices in the vineyard. It is still wholly family owned and now Ros and David look forward to generations of successful winemaking.

AWARDS

  • The 2004 Riesling was awarded the Top Gold Medal in Class 2 of the 2005 Cairns Wine Show -White Wines - Fragrant and Aromatic
  • The 2004 Deadman's Hill Gewurztraminer and 2004 VS Riesling also received Bronze Medals in Class 2.
  • In the Decanter Summer Guide to the Best wines for everyday drinking, the 2004 Riesling was awarded 5 stars (the only wine to receive 5 stars)
  • Winestate magazine has awarded the 2002 Cabernet sauvignon 4 1/2 stars in its most recent Cabernet Tasting.
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