Langhorne Creek Wine Region

As the lake filled up, Anne bought a kayak.
“I thought, I’ve got to get it off my bucket list.’ Her kayak weighs 16 kilos,
the same as a carton of wine. She also plays golf and goes bush walking with a
group of women.

Which explains the design of Rusticana’s combined
cellar door, office, horseradish factory, and kitchen. The views over the farm
and vineyard stretch across the horizon and are breathtaking; it is as if they have
blended the indoors with the outdoors. ‘I had great joy in the planning and
building of this.’

Her father-in-law, Joe Meakins, bought
Newman’s Horseradish in 1947, starting in Tea Tree Gully. The move to Langhorne
Creek was geographical, and her husband Brian moved there in 1985 to grow
horseradish. The factory was built in 1993, ‘we’re the only horseradish farm of
this scale that I am aware of’.

The original label hasn’t changed since
Fred started making it all those years ago. Brian’s father made the beetroot
and horseradish, which Brian remembered from his childhood, so they made it
commercially. Then they developed the horseradish dip. They now have four
horseradish products and three that don’t have horseradish but add to the
condiment range.

With rich alluvial soil right on the flood
plain, situated next to the Bremer where all the old traditional vineyards are,
they succumbed and planted the vineyard in 1996 with the view of selling all
the fruit. And when in 2002 they decided to make a small vintage for friends
and family, they ‘sort of got hooked’. In addition to Cabernet and Shiraz, they
planted Durif and Zinfandel, two varieties chosen because they personally like
them. They called the vineyard Rusticana which is part of the botanical name for
horseradish.

‘It’s a really unique combination. They’re
both food and wine, but there’s not much connection other than that.’

Anne, Brian and  son Nick run the vineyard with John Glaetzer as
their consultant winemaker. The wines are all made locally, and they have
several employees who run the horseradish business and work the cellar door.

They have also expanded their wine rage to
include a Pinot Grigio, their only white, and a blend. ‘We went to taste the
new wines and came home with a blend that wasn’t planned.’ The name comes from
a customer’s comment that Rusticana was a ‘hidden gem’ because you can’t see it
from the road. Anne thought it was a good name for the new blend.

‘Seeing the region of Langhorne Creek grow
and develop as a serious wine destination now with seven cellar doors and
producing many wonderful wines is our focus. This area has been growing grapes
since the 1850’s and has some of the oldest vines in the world. It has much to
offer with its location an hour from Adelaide and set in the beautiful Fleurieu
Peninsula.’

A visit to Rusticana truly is a visit to a
hidden gem. They sell local produce, their wines, their horseradish products,
and provide light meals seven days a week.

Words: Connie Berg

‘Our son Ben is a Potts, 6th generation, and they’ve got wine in their veins,’ Deb said. ‘We really tried to persuade him to try and go do something else, to get a trade behind him, but he loves the industry.’

Deb grew up on a diary farm in the Adelaide Hills, and moved to Strathalbyn as a teenager where she met her husband Bill Potts. As a young mother of three, she left behind a nursing career and became initiated into the grape growing industry and Langhorne Creek. The early days involved weeks of handpicking, and helping her mother-in-law Vera with the baking and the serving of countless teas to the fun loving local grape pickers.

Now, with her kids grown and she is a Grandmother many times over, she works in the office and you will often find her behind the counter at the The Winehouse, a tasting room for five award-winning Langhorne Creek brands.

‘We have five different labels at the Winehouse which is great because it allows us to have a lot of variety in the one tasting room and there is a connection between all the labels that works well. The labels are Ben Potts Wines, Gipsie Jack, Johns’s Blend by John Glaetzer, Heartland by Ben Glaetzer and Kimbolton by the Case Family. The Gipsie Jack label is collaboration between Ben Potts and John Glaetzer, who was Wolf Blass’ first winemaker. Ben’s grown up knowing John most of his life because his dad Bill and John are great friends, and Ben’s great-grandfather “Fiddle” was one of the first growers to supply fruit to Wolf when he first started his label Wolf Blass Wines.

‘We’re very lucky to have John Glaetzer involved here at The Winehouse, as he’s so well recognized in the wine industry.’

The Winehouse is also a function centre. ‘October to February seems to be the “wedding season”, especially in a small country town where football and sport in general plays such a big part, no-one gets married during footy season.’ The commercial kitchen serves the functions and meetings, but Deb hopes that in the future they would serve food on a day-to-day basis.

‘I’m usually at The Winehouse five days a week, as well as two weekends a month, and if I’m not here I’m often babysitting my grandkids or helping care for Bill’s father Lenny. Lenny’s quite a unique character; he’s got the most amazing memory. He’s a salt of the earth type person. He’s kept diaries every day since he was fifteen. He has an amazing amount of knowledge about the district and what’s happened over time. His whole life is basically been around watching birds, going fishing, or in the vineyard and even today that’s the three things that take up his time. Last winter he pruned Ben’s vines, even at 83! He’s minimal trouble but it’s still a matter of checking on him.’

‘Ben’s the winemaker. Bill is the grape grower. Bill’s pretty much like his dad. He hates the office, hates paperwork. He’d rather be out on a tractor or holding a spade.’

Ben is also very involved in the marketing. ‘I just don’t think Langhorne Creek will ever be big and touristy. And that’s probably a good thing. Through the cellar door I know that’s what people love about the place because it’s more personable and quieter.’

The collective cellar door is friendly and unique. Once there, you’ll appreciate that there are a lot of wines on offer, and some wonderful espresso too. It truly gives you a snapshot of the Langhorne Creek region, its wines and its history.

Words:  Connie Berg

Image: Karen Jericho

From Shalistin to Verdelho, Montepulciano to Malbec, Langhorne Creek’s newest festival “Love Langhorne Creek” will this year give the opportunity for wine lovers to discover wines and experience a wine region with a difference.

The festival, which will be held annually over the “Valentine’s” weekend, this year will be celebrated on the 11^th and 12^th of February in the inviting cellar doors throughout the Langhorne Creek Wine Region.

With a focus on alternative varieties of wine, the Love Langhorne Creek celebration will ensure that those who love the stunning Cabernet and Shiraz of Langhorne Creek also get the chance to try, buy and fall in love with some of the wines not traditionally available in mainstream bottle shops.

Enjoy a relaxing day amongst River Red Gums, good food and great people while enjoying an extraordinary chance to taste an alternative side to the delicious wine region.

All just a short 50 minute drive from Adelaide & 5 minutes from Strathalbyn.

(Make a weekend of it and enjoy some of the new accommodation available in Langhorne Creek!)

Experience Our Past. Taste The Future.

The Details

Name: Love Langhorne Creek

Date: Saturday 11^th and Sunday 12^th of February 2012

Time: 10am until 5pm

Location: Cellar Doors throughout Langhorne Creek

Cost: Free for cellar door tastings.

 Two of South Australia’s iconic wineries, Langhorne Creek’s Bremerton Wines and Ben Potts Wines, have announced a very special release…and it’s not a new wine.

Lucy Willson from Bremerton Wines and Ben Potts of Ben Potts Wines have created the perfect blend in time for Christmas – a beautiful girl named Peggy Mignonne – who was born at Burnside Hospital late on Wednesday evening.

Arriving two and a half weeks before her due date and weighing a healthy 2.85kg, Peggy represents the seventh generation of the famous wine-making Potts family and the third generation from Bremerton.

“Everyone in Langhorne Creek is already placing bets on her becoming a winemaker,” Lucy Willson says.

“Whatever she decides to be, Langhorne Creek is a great place for kids and we can’t wait to take her home and celebrate our first Christmas as a family of three.”

Ben’s great-great-great grandfather, Frank Potts, planted his first vines in 1858 establishing the now famous Bleasdale Winery while Lucy’s parents, Craig and Mignonne Willson, purchased the historic Bremerton Winery in 1985, whose history dates back to 1866.

Today Ben is Chief Winemaker at Ben Potts Wines while Lucy is Marketing Manager at Bremerton.

The Langhorne Creek wine region recently launched a new regional branding initiative – “Experience our Past. Taste the Future” which celebrates its unique past and future.

Surrounded by ancient red gums and with cooling lake and ocean breezes, Langhorne Creek is less than an hour south east from Adelaide in South Australia. With seven cellar doors and boutique B&Bs, it’s the perfect destination for day trips or longer stays.

Passionate, persevering and proud women are the focus of a
new project to come out of the Langhorne Creek Wine Region. The region is
undertaking a focus on the women in their wine region in a project led by Anne
McLennan with the backing of Langhorne Creek Grape and Wine.

The Women in Wine project, which commenced in May 2011, had
the aim of developing a new promotional tool for the region showing a point of
difference to the region and uncovered the stories behind the wines from a
uniquely female perspective.

Langhorne Creek Grape and Wine funded the photo-shoot and
story development, the first series focusing on the women in the cellar doors
of Langhorne Creek – as each of the Langhorne Creek cellar doors have at least
one woman acting as the driving force behind the outlet.

The photo-shoot was held with the key women from many of the
cellar doors in Langhorne Creek and was photographed by Karen Jericho. Writer
Connie Berg then interviewed the women in wine for a series of biographies – to
be published in the Argus on a monthly basis, commencing with an interview with
Anne Meakins of Rusticana and Newmans Horseradish.

One of the most popular Sunday race days on the South Australian calender, the Langhorne Creek Vigneron’s Day is more than just a horse race. Celebrating the best that the local region has to offer in food and wine, the day is one for all the family to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the grounds of the picturesque Strathalbyn Racecourse. Get caught up in the thrill of the races, toe tap to live music, keep the kids busy with children’s entertainment and indulge in gourmet food and superb Langhorne Creek branded wines.
Packages and tickets are available at www.strathracing.com.au

 Over 400 visitor’s ventured to Langhorne Creek on the 14 & 15 August to take part in the popular Annual Cellar Treasures weekend.  Eight cellar doors participated. Angas Plains, Bleasdale, Bremerton, Brothers in Arms, Cleggett Wines, Lake Breeze, Rusticana and The Winehouse (Ben Potts Wines & Kimbolton) all raided their cellars to find some museum wines for all to enjoy. This was the 6th year this unique event has been running, with this year the most successful yet.

The 2011 vintage, a roller coaster of highs and lows, will be remembered as one of the most climatically challenging ever experienced in Langhorne Creek.  Harvest began about 3-4 weeks later than the previous vintage.  The first sparkling base and white varieties were taken at the end of February and the first week of March.  Out of the chaos, there are fruit and wine highlights for Langhorne Creek to once again hang its hat on.

The welcome ‘highs’ for the season emerged from the above average rainfall in winter and spring leading to high vigour and a return to average or above average crop levels in the majority of vineyards.  Fruit set was excellent and yield looking high.  A cool summer and autumn led to high natural acidity especially in whites, good perfume, low baume and low alcohol in wines.  Dense canopy growth provided sun protection for fruit when the region was hit by two 44+ degree days in January.  High rainfall replenished soils, flushed salts and reduced irrigation costs for growers.  It has been a great year for young vine establishment with cooler weather and high soil moisture in the top soil.

The untimely ‘lows’ did take their toll – it rained…and rained…and rained.

Humidity was high and the fungal disease pressure escalated across the district.  This compounded with a late start to harvest resulted in a high stress compressed vintage period and end to the season.  Cooler temperatures resulted in low sugar levels in reds which posed some winemaking challenges.  There was a high level of selective picking for most red varieties in the region this year due to the high disease pressure from Downy and Powdery mildew, Botrytis and other bunch rots.  The overall district yield was severely impacted with an expectation of approximately 20% lower total tonnage from Langhorne Creek compared to 2010.  Vintage concluded for most by the Easter break in late April.

The ‘silver lining’ from the Langhorne Creek 2011 vintage will certainly be the anticipated excellent white wines.  Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc and early picked Chardonnay will be sure to please consumers and showcase Langhorne Creek whites.  For those liking reds, some stand out parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon and early picked Shiraz will produce gems this year but total yield was down so consumers would be advised to buy early when these wines are released.  It has also been a fantastic year for alternative varieties with good parcels of Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot and Tempranillo reported.

The 2011 Langhorne Creek wine grape harvest has been one of low production (particularly for red grape varieties) with excellent whites and some highlights in the reds to look out for.  A look at the ‘alternative’ side of Langhorne Creek is also recommended from this vintage.