The History of Winemaking in Clare

John Horrocks, the young English explorer, was one of the first to establish vines in the Clare Valley - he also has the misfortune to be remembered as the explorer who was accidentally shot by his camel! Hope Farm, at Penwortham, was his first pioneering Clare Valley venture, established in 1840.

The green oasis-like quality of the valley impressed and attracted the early pioneers who came from England, Ireland and Poland; the first agricultural ventures were wheat growing and sheep - the Hawker family settled at "Bungaree" in 1839 and their direct descendants still live and farm there today.

As the Burra mines developed and wheat farming spread north, Clare grew as a hub and service centre for the region. Wine or beer included in the scale of wages for agricultural workers in the district from an early date. This need for "harvest wine" was a stimulus for winemaking in the region.

Waves of settlers drawn to the area included an influx of Irish Catholics who gave the region "Armagh"; Polish immigrants settled in the valley at the head of Hill River which then became Polish Hill River and German Catholics founded the Sevenhill College and Winery.

By 1860 land use around Clare was changing from wheat growing to vineyards and orchard and within a couple of years the landscape was dotted with vines. Many of these table/drying varieties but wine grapes also began to take hold.

As well as the producers of harvest wine, the Jesuit priests at Sevenhill were amongst the pioneering winemakers in the district. At first they made only sacramental wines but as early as 1858 some of the wines they fermented and stored in casks and vats made from Mintaro slate may have been sold. Their proud heritage continues to this day. Wendouree winery, which was founded as a hobby in 1895, also survives in almost traditional form.

Today the Valley is home to numerous wineries, most of which are small and produce only bottled wine. It continues to be a premium wine region and tourist destination with a reputation for beautiful vistas and excellent wines.

History of Annie's Lane

In the early days of wine making in the Clare Valley, the local community would help each other during busy times of the season. After delivering lunches to workers pruning vines in the middle of winter one year, Annie Wayman’s horse drawn cart struck difficulty in negotiating the muddy track back to her cottage. From that day on, the track has been affectionately known as Annie’s Lane.

The Annie’s Lane brand has a range of reputable wines of regional and varietal expression sourced from some of the oldest vines in Clare Valley in South Australia. Annie’s Lane is one of Australia’s leading single region wine brand with a loyal consumer and trade following.

Annie’s winemaking philosophy is all about crafting wines with minimal intervention, keeping the wine as natural as possible to maximize fruit flavor and intensity. Annie’s Lane winemaker Alex MacKenzie stated “2011 marked 15 years of Annie’s Lane wines and despite its youth, we are sourcing quality fruit from Clare Valley vines, as old as 75 years, which is truly special”.

Then

Now

1851 1853 1854 1858 1859 1862 1863 1868 1871 1889 1896 1898 1915 1925 1937 1945 1953 1965 1969 1979 1980 1987

1851

October 2nd, 1851: Francis Treloar purchased his first piece of land in Watervale. This was section 3010 on which Quelltaler Winery now stands, and comprised 117 acres purchased from Mr Thomas Henry Williams, Smelter of Kooringa for £206 (AU$325). Francis was described as a yeoman of North Adelaide.

1853

On January 3rd, 1853, Francis and his family moved to Watervale. The house was a simple hut such as all pioneer families began their farming lives in. A temporary shelter, the primitive hut was replaced by a more substantial dwelling after Francis had made some of his land productive. This old stone cottage stands to this day. Springvale Winery used the buildings as stables and later as implement, vehicle and chemical storage.

Francis is reported to have planted the first wheat this far north on May 20th of this year, reaping it by hand with a sickle the same year.

1854

On June 15th, 1854, Francis planted his first patch of vines which he obtained as cuttings from a Mr Solly.

1858

Francis builds a more substantial home for his growing family. This fine old stone house still stands today. It is called “Springvale” and has been considerably altered and enlarged and is still a family home over a hundred and fifty years later.

1859

The vines that Francis planted some 5 years prior became productive, and from the grapes he made harvest wine which he sold to local people or used to barter for goods, or as payment to his many labourers. It was also made for family consumption, as tea was expensive and therefore kept for special occasions, and coffee was unheard of.

1862

Francis sold his property and left Watervale, four years after the family had moved into Springvale House. The new owner was Captain (later Sir) Walter Watson Hughes who purchased the property for his nephew James McKinnon Richman. Two months later Francis Treloar purchased section 3011, a property adjacent to Springvale, fencing the area and planting five acres of vines.

1863

Francis is installed as manager of Springvale. The beautiful stone cellars were established and Francis made the wine.

1868

Francis was instrumental in advertising for and appointing a winemaker by the name of Carl Sobels. When Sire Walter Watson Hughes died, the property was inherited by Mr J M Richman and his cousin John Duncan. Carl Sobels remained as winemaker and Francis continued to manage the property.

1868

Francis hands over management to James Richman who had become of age. Francis was frequently called upon for advice right up to the time of his death in 1890.

1889

James Richman sells the property to Carl Sobels and his brother-in-law, Mr Hermann Buring. The partners paid £9000 for the established business. After nearly 20 years of service at Springvale, Carl was keen to become owner of the thriving winery. He immediately instituted long planned improvements and extensions.

1896

Hermann Buring is elected President of the Wine Growers Association and as a member of the Wine Committee of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia.

1898

The sons of the two partners became active in the operation during this period. Emil Sobels, then 27, returned to Springvale to help his father with the increasing work in the cellars. Leo, second son of Hermann Buring, became cellarman at Springvale – matriculating at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, and gaining a three year bursary for study at Rosewothy Agricultural College. He then went abroad to Germany and France to further his studies in winemaking.

1915

A difficult period in the winery’s history, with the dissolution of the partnership, problems with unionized labour, the declaration of World War I (making economic prospects uncertain), and drought.

1925

The first mechanical conveyance was to be seen at Springvale this year: a Ford Ton Truck. Also, this year marked the arrival of electricity in the area.

1937

Quelltaler Hock became the first Australian wine to be served at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London and at the House of Commons.

1945

During the Second World War there was a strong demand for Buring and Sobels wines by British and United States armed forces. At the time, sales of liquor were restricted by a government quota system which was not lifted until 1946. During this time, the demand for Quelltaler Wines in India, Canada, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand combined with Australian Civilian and Military requirements far exceeded production.

1953

The first mechanised bottling line was installed at the winery and, after some teething troubles, the production of bottled wines was carried out at the cellars. The company continued to grow and propser, vines were planted on fallow land, the buildings were extended with the addition of the vintage cellar.

1965

100th anniversary of the firm was celebrated.

1969

Vignerons Distillers and Vintners Ltd of Melbourne acquired H Buring & Sobels Limited.

1979

Introduction of stainless steel fermenters revolutionises the white wine industry. The mechanical harvester was introduced into the vineyard. Vine irrigation is slowly introduced.

1980

Remy Martin purchases the winery.

1987

Australian-owned once again: Wolf Blass purchases Quelltaler Estate. Over the next few years, over $2 million is spent upgrading and redeveloping the vineyard and production facilities. The Cellar Door is redecorated, and a beautiful bar is added, the timber of which was salvaged from old brandy vats in the cellars.