Purchase Bearing Fruit

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday March 12, 2008

JOHN LEWIS

THE McWilliam's family wine company's purchase last year of the ailing Western Australian Evans and Tate Wines Ltd had rich rewards at the recent 2008 Sydney Wine Show.

The Evans and Tate 2005 The Reserve Shiraz won six trophies, including the Macquarie Bank Trophy and the Fine Wine Partners Trophy for the best show wine exhibited at major state wine shows in the past 12 months.

The wine will be released in September at $30 a bottle and the 2004 version is in the shops now at the same price.

McWilliam's took out the McCarthy Shield for the most successful exhibitor in wine and brandy classes.

McWilliam's did not disclose the price it paid for Evans and Tate, but it was reported to be $60 million and did not include E and T's Oakridge subsidiary in Victoria's Yarra Valley.

Oakridge has now been bought by a private Victorian group that includes Oakridge winemaker David Bicknell and his family.

The Griffith-based McWilliam's has a long history of enlightened takeovers dating back to 1941 when it took full ownership of the Hunter Valley's Mount Pleasant winery from legendary winemaker Maurice O'Shea.

In 1989 McWilliam's bought the Barwang vineyard in the Hilltops area near Young from its founder Peter Robertson and has steadily built the reputation of the brand.

In 1994 the Lillydale operation in the Yarra Valley and the Brand's Laira family business at Coonawarra were added to the McWilliam's portfolio.

Lillydale was established in 1976 by two Carlton and United brewers, Alex White and Martin Grinsbergs and Brand's of Coonawarra was founded in 1965 by Eric and Nancy Brand.

Adding Evans and Tate to its empire ended a year in which McWilliam's celebrated three historic milestones the 150th anniversary of the arrival in Australia of its founder Samuel McWilliam, the 130th anniversary of Samuel planting the first McWilliam vines at Corowa in NSW and the 90th anniversary of John James (J.J.) McWilliam establishing the McWilliam's Hanwood winery the first in the Riverina.

McWilliam's has long sought a major presence in Margaret River and McWilliam's chief executive officer, George Wahby, says the E and T acquisition makes his group Australia's fourth largest bottled wine supplier, by value and volume.

The 2008 Sydney champion Evans and Tate 2005 The Reserve Shiraz George was made by Matthew Byrne, who will continue to make the E and T wines at Margaret River. Matthew has been with Evans and Tate since 2001 and has played a major part in driving its stylistic development.

The 2008 Sydney Wine Show's other major triumph was claimed by the Shadowfax 2006 Chardonnay from Werribee in Victoria.

The wine won the Albert Chan Trophy for the best white wine of the show, the Four Seasons Trophy for the best white wine in the premium 2006 and older classes and the NSW RAS Trophy for the best chardonnay.

Judging, chaired by James Halliday, attracted 2000 entries.

The Thorp Trophy for the best sparkling white wine of the show was won by the Yellowglen Vineyards 2004 Perle.

Thomas adds to tally

MY February 20 report on the 2008 Sydney judging omitted mention of a gold medal won by Bob and Maryanne McLeish's McLeish Estate vineyard in De Beyers Road, Pokolbin.

The wine won a gold medal in the named vineyard 2007 dry white, other than chardonnay, class and it is currently available at $25 a bottle at the cellar door, which is open from 10am to 5pm daily, or by mail order on 4998 7754 or www.mcleishhunterwines.com.au.

Andrew Thomas made the wine, giving him four 2008 Sydney golds and making the Hunter's gold medal tally 18.

The Tatler Wines 2004 Nigel's Semillon that won a gold medal in the named vineyard 2006 and older dry white, other than chardonnay, class, is not currently available, but the 2007 version can be bought for $20 a bottle at the cellar door off Lovedale Road, Lovedale, or on 4930 9139 or www.tatlerwines.com.

The Tatler vineyard, cellar door, restaurant and tourist accommodation is owned by Sydney hoteliers Spiro and Theo Isakidis and former publican Tony Brown.

Shining jewels in crown

THE Roche Wines 2006 Tallawanta Vineyard Premium Semillon, which won a gold medal at the 2008 Sydney show, is due to go on the market soon at about $30 a bottle.

Made at Tempus Two winery by Liz Jackson, it won gold in the named vineyard 2006 and older dry white, other than chardonnay, class.

Liz tells me the wine will be available separately or with the Roche 2005 IJR Tallawanta Shiraz and the Roche 2005 WR Steven Shiraz in a three-bottle boxed set.

The former Elliott family-owned Tallawanta vineyard, next to Hunter Valley Gardens in Broke Road, Pokolbin, and the former Lindemans Steven vineyard in Gillards Road, Pokolbin, are two of the jewels in the crown of Roche Wines, owned by Bill Roche and his wife Imelda.

The Roches are the founders of the Australian Nutrimetics cosmetic business and now owners of the Hunter Valley Gardens Resort, part-owners of Tempus Two and shareholders of Tower Estate.