Generations in Wine

Generations in Wine WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY Alicia Lüdi-Schutz >> Father and son team John and Tim Duval of John Duval Wines. GENERATIONS IN WINE Side by side in wine unlocking the family balance It seems the berry hasn’t fallen too...

Vincent Cirillo’s worn and weathered hands are as gnarly as the 175-year-old Grenache, Shiraz and Semillon vines that grow alongside his family’s Nuriootpa homestead, on Nuraip Road. Today, those hard-working hands hold a glass of Cirillo Estate Wines’ Vincent Grenache, as he chats to his winemaker son, Marco, who named the wine in his honour.

Since 1853, the Kalleske family has continually farmed land on the outskirts of Greenock. Seven generations have contributed to the property, all following in the footsteps of Eduard and Rosina Kalleske who planted the first vines, some of which still grow today.

When it comes to family endeavours, the name says it all for Trevor and Marilyn Harch, owners of Brockenchack Wines. A combination of letters from their four grandchildren’s names, BROnte, MaCKENzie, CHArli and JaCK, adorn their labels, with the brand not only celebrating the couple’s inspiration, but also providing a glimpse into the future of their vision turned reality.

“As long as it isn’t pink!” was the only rule Leon Koch insisted on when his family was deciding on a colour for their new tractor.

Charles Melton’s direction in life was decided with the toss of a coin. Backpacking around Australia, he and his travelling buddy Ken Roach worked a vintage, picking grapes for Krondorf Winery, and when the company offered them two full time positions, one in the winery and one in the vineyard, fate sent Charles into winemaking.

Brothers, John and James Lienert, sit side by side in the shed where their late father, John Snr. once kept his farming equipment protected from the elements. The siblings laugh as they share fond memories of growing up in the house next door, their cricketing triumphs and footy failures, and the different spellings of Sheaoak Log, or should it be Sheaok Log? “It definitely doesn’t have a hyphen!” says John of the small town that holds such strong family ties.

There’s a sparkle of pride in the eyes of Peter Scholz when he talks of his family’s long history, but it shines even brighter when he talks of its future.