Within 15 years the estate had 8ha of land which were under vine producing 10000 litres of wine annually. ‘Constantia, Frontignac, Port and Sherry’ were all produced and sold under the ‘Heathvale’ label.
label pic here - change date to 1880
Within 15 years the estate had 8ha of land which were under vine producing 10000 litres of wine annually. ‘Constantia, Frontignac, Port and Sherry’ were all produced and sold under the ‘Heathvale’ label.
Wine production was phased out to concentrate on the production and export of dried apple rings and apricots.
Having arrived just one year previously as the second-generation owners of the property, Trevor and Faye March commence replanting the vineyards with 2 hectares of Chardonnay.
Heathvale Chardonnay’s inaugural vintage. A relationship with Bethany Wines is established as contract makers of the wine.
The first commercial release of the ‘Heathvale’ label with approximately 250 cases of each wine being made under their own label.
A busy year of expansion with 2 hectares of Riesling and 3 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon planted at another site on the property.
Conversion of some of the more vigorous Shiraz to Scott-Henry trellis system
to make the vines behave themselves.
Young Chardonnay trained to a modified ‘arched cane’ system to
improve budburst along the cane. Eden Valley Chardonnay is notorious for growing
in the crown of the vine and on the ends of the canes.
The best vintage yet! Quality is superb and Heathvale enlists the talents
of Jim Irvine and Ben Radford as consultant winemakers. Production of Heathvale
Wines shifts to Kellermeister Wines at Lyndoch.
Heathvale production expands to 5 tonnes of Chardonnay and 7 tonnes of
Shiraz.
The new trellis systems have proven to be well worth the effort.
