A single minded commitment and the experience of the estate's winemaking team, many of whom have literally grown up in the wine industry, has enabled Cheviot Bridge to realize the vision. The endorsement of the passionate approach comes from the support of the customers whose loyalty has led to Cheviot Bridge becoming one of the top twenty wine companies in Australia. At Cheviot Bridge the aim is to craft wines that fit with today's varied lifestyles. So whether wine lovers are looking for something to drink everyday, a wine for that special occasion or something new and different, you will always find something to enjoy in Cheviot Bridge.
Cheviot Bridge provides services across the wine industry value chain including the production, distribution, marketing and sale of wine. Cheviot Bridge provides the framework for the production, marketing and sales of brands such as Long Flat, Braided River and Thirsty Lizard. Fruit is sourced from the Cheviot Kirribilly Vineyard Property Group and Cheviot Kirribilly Limited which currently manages approximately 1,300 hectares of vineyards.
Kirribilly Vineyard Management Services was incorporated in South Australia 1996. The primary function of this company has been the professional establishment and subsequent ongoing care and husbandry of large-scale viticultural projects throughout South Australia. Kirribilly Limited was formed after this time to take over the development role of the business beyond the group’s first project in the Clare Valley of South Australia. The combination of a management team and fully qualified and experienced onsite management has allowed this dynamic and well established development company to actively pursue the opportunities provided by the export demand for premium Australian wine, through the expansion of large professionally managed vineyards.
Kirribilly has embraced the lateral function of new planning legislation and pioneered the transportation of Murray water in conjunction with SA Water and the South Australian State Government. The total development expenditure since inception now exceeds AUD100 million. The vineyard management company now has an annual operating revenue exceeding AUD10 million. Kirribilly has established in excess of 1,200 hectares of vineyards since 1997, which will produce thousands of tonnes of wine grapes a year from three areas of South Australia’s premium grape producing regions.
Kirribilly Estate Clare Valley was the first Community Title vineyard to be developed in Australia. This project saw the successful development of 227 hectares (560 acres) of premium variety red and white wine grapes. The vineyard is divided into 20 Community Titles and was planted in 1997. The Stage II vineyard comprises 141 hectares (349 acres) of red grape varieties. It consists of 34 Community titles and was planted in 1999. The 286 hectare (707 acre) Birchmores Vineyard Langhorne Creek development was one of only a handful of large-scale vineyards established in one year in Australia. Completion was achieved in November 1998. The wine grapes are contracted to five major wine companies. The fruit is destined for both the export and domestic wine markets. The vineyard is divided into 54 Community Titles.
The development of 163 hectares (403 acres) of the Schobers Road Vineyard in the Clare Valley was completed in September 2001. This vineyard was established in part to supply the resurgence of the Clare Valley’s icon white wine – Riesling. Sixty-six hectares of the vineyard is planted with this variety. The balance is planted with red varieties, some of which will provide winemakers with rare blending opportunities such as Malbec and Mataro. These varieties remain scarce and highly prized from this area of the Clare Valley. This vineyard has experienced textbook growing conditions and is the youngest of Kirribilly’s managed vineyards. The project has 47 Community Titles and is contracted to four major wine companies.
Spring Gully in the Clare Valley is a collection of three vineyards totalling 80 hectares located within six kilometres of each other in the Clare subregions running from the Skillogalee to the Armagh Valleys. The Elderedge Vineyard comprises 20 hectares of mixed varieties developed in 1999 at the request of the winemaker Leigh Eldredge to support the growth of their brands into the United States and Canada. Stage I of the Angas Creek Vineyards at Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills is a successful development of 75 hectares (185 acres) of cool climate premium wine grape varieties. The fruit from this vineyard is destined for Southcorp export and domestic markets. A further 60 hectares (148 acres) was developed alongside Stage I in 1998. Once again the emphasis was on planting premium cool climate varieties. The grapes from this vineyard are fully contracted to Kingston Estate Wines.
The 195 hectare (481 acre) Tullymore Vineyard in the Clare Valley was developed in 1998. Part of the property was established to vines 30 years prior to the property being fully developed. It has consistently achieved excellent fruit quality. It was one of the last remaining undeveloped properties along the five kilometres of the western slopes of the Clare Valley. It neighbours existing vineyards of Jim Barry – Lodge Hill, Leasingham (BRL Hardy), Petaluma, Brian Barry and Knappstein. The vineyard is divided into 26 Community Titles.
