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Mount Benson Wine Region |
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Mount Benson Wine Region is located in the heart of the Southern Ports/Limestone Coast tourist district of south eastern South Australia. It lies 20 kilometres north of Robe, 320 kilometres south of Adelaide and 520 kilometres north west of Melbourne. The Region takes its name from a feature which is no more than a hill but a prominent feature nonetheless in this relatively low lying landscape.
Mount Benson Below - Mount Benson's winemakers and vignerons representing the Region at Wine Australia's Expo in Sydney 2002. The producers represented include Baudin Rock Wines, Cape Jaffa Wines, Frog Island Wines, Guichen Bay Vineyards, M.Chapoutier (Tournon), Norfolk Rise (Kreglinger), Ralph Fowler Wines, Stoney Rise, Wangolina Station, Wehl's Mount Benson Vineyard.
The Southern Ports Coastal Tourist Route (Southern Ports Highway / Alternate Princes Highway Route 1) links Kingston (SE) in the north through Cape Jaffa, Mount Benson and Robe to Beachport in the south. Many of the coastal features of southern South Australia were named by Nicholas Baudin and Matthew Flinders in 1802, when both were exploring and mapping the southern coastline of Australia. Flinders in "Investigator"was sailing from west to east having made landfall on the south west Australian coast near Cape Leeuwin in December 1801 while Baudin was sailing from east to west in command of the expedition of "Le Geographe" and "Naturaliste". They met in Encounter Bay south of Kangaroo Island, on 8th April 1802.
after his French countryman and seafarer Admiral Compte de luc Guichen. Just offshore from the two Vineyards and clearly visible from them is the outcrop of rocks known as “Baudin's Rocks” which were named by Matthew Flinders in honour of Baudin who first charted them.
Baudin's Rocks From 1838 onward there was a regular flow of men moving cattle and sheep through the area from Portland to Adelaide, with the first settlement established in 1845 with grazing, grain production and the harvest of black wattle bark for tannin extraction (which was sent to Adelaide, Melbourne and London). "Guichen Bay Vineyards" and "Wrights Bay Vineyards" lie together on the northern shoreline of Guichen Bay and the latter takes its name from the body of water which lies between Guichen Bay and Cape Jaffa to the north. The Limestone Coast is the name given to that part of South Australia’s coastline which lies south of the Coorong from Kingston (SE) to the fishing village of Beachport. Mount Benson region is 'bookended by the fishing ports of KINGSTON (SE) to its north and ROBE to its south. Both have large crayfishing fleets. Robe lies on the southern shore of Guichen Bay and was once a major port. In fact Robe is famous for being the disembarkation port for as many as twenty thousand Chinese gold diggers in the early 1850’s. The Chinese walked from Robe to the goldfields of Ballarat and Bendigo, a distance of some 300 kilometres. A plaque commemorating this trek is situated on the shore at Robe’s boat harbour. Visit the District Council of Robe's Visitor Information Centre at click hereV Robe's weather click here Robe is a scenic and historic town of approximately 600 permanent residents which attracts a large number of tourists in season. Together with Kingston (SE) and Beachport, it is a popular holiday destination for residents of Adelaide and Melbourne. Splendid beaches and fishing have long been a feature of the district and wine tourism is set to join them. Crayfishing is a significant local industry. Tourism in the district is booming. There is a substantial amount of accommodation available for visitors in historic hotels, motels and rental cottages. Bed and breakfast establishments are rapidly expanding to cater for a burgeoning wine tourism market. Scenes of Robe’s Lake Butler boat harbour (before and after the recent construction of a marina which replaced the swing moorings). isit the District Council of Robe's Visitor Information Centre
below - trailer boat ramp and new marina berths
below - the rainbow marks the old Customs House
below - Robe Hotel and foreshore
below - Robe's Bowling Club
Approximately one hours drive to the south east is Penola and the Coonawarra Wine Region . A similar distance to the north east is the Padthaway Wine Region. Between Padthaway and Coonawarra is the main service centre of Naracoorte, with a population of approximately 6,000. Naracoorte is the regional centre for the Wrattonbully Wine Region. The most northerly of the Southern Ports, a picturesque town of 1,600 and home of the "Big Lobster". Another spectacular tourist attraction is the relocated Cape Jaffa lighthouse which was removed form its offshore location marking Margaret Brock Reef and rebuilt in Marine Parade on the Kingston foreshore.
Cape Jaffa Lighthouse has been relocated to The Big Lobster Marine Parade, Kingston from Margaret Brock Reef
Margaret Brock Reef in Lacepede Bay offshore from Kingston and Cape Jaffa A small fishing village lying between Kingston and Robe and home of a large fishing fleet. The development of Cape Jaffa Anchorage residential and marina quay project has transformed it.. Ask for our wine at the Cape Jaffa Caravan Parkclick here
Above - the Cape Jaffa Anchorage Marina berths & trailer boat launching ramps.
Cape Jaffa Beach Cape Jaffa Jetty The most southerly of the ports on the Southern Ports Highway, 40 kilometres south of Robe, 37 kilometres north west of Millicent. Another popular holiday destination with a large crayfishing fleet. Visit the Beachport Information Centre click here Ask for our wines at Bompas click here
Beachport Jetty is over 700 matres long
Bompa's Bistro & Hotel & Beachport foreshore Beachport beach & boardwalk VITICULTURE IN THE MOUNT BENSON REGION From a viticultural perspective, the first recorded attempt to grow wine grapes was in 1978 when a trial vineyard of Riesling, Traminer, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon was established at the Cape Jaffa Almond Orchard by Lindeman Wines. While the results were reportedly positive, nothing eventuated from this experiment at that time. The first commercial planting of vines was a 2 hectare block of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1989 by retired cray fisherman Bill Wehl, and his wife Margaret who noticed the similarity of their terra rossa soil type to the inland Coonawarra region. The vineyard, now covering 30 hectares and planted to shiraz and sauvignon blanc as well as cabernet, became known as Wehl’s Mount Benson Vineyard and is now owned and operated by Peter & Leah Wehl. Peter Wehl is also the Vineyard Manager of the "Guichen Bay & Wrights Bay" Vineyards. James Halliday’s prestigious publication, “Australian Wine Companion 2004” rated the “Wehl’s Mount Benson Vineyards” label at five stars and included the label in its “Ten of the best new wineries” category . The Mount Benson Wine Region is now a defined viticulture region (GI) with twenty two vineyards producing several thousand tonnes each vintage of high quality, cool climate fruit from a planted area of 530 hectares. Production in 2008 was 3,423 tonnes. A similar quantity of fruit was produced by vineyards planted around Robe. There are three wineries, Cape Jaffa Wines (the first winery to be established in the Region), Ralph Fowler Wines and Kreglinger's Norfolk Rise winery ( the largest at 5,000 tonnes crushing capacity). The Mount Benson Vignerons Association was incorporated in 1997 to represent the Region’s rapidly expanding grape growing interests. Since Wehl’s "Mount Benson Vineyard" pioneered grape growing in the Region in 1989, another twenty one vineyards have been established in Mount Benson Region, and nearby in Robe is Fosters' Southcorp Vineyard (240 hectares) which contributes fruit to the Penolds' icon label Bin 389. Other vineyards in the Region include Cellarmaster’s “Black Wattle Vineyard” (which has won a number of awards for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay labels) with 80 hectares under vine and an established 40 hectare vineyard which was purchased in 1998 by the Chapoutier brothers. The Chapoutiers are substantial French winemakers who are based in the Rhone Valley. During 1997 and 1998 they investigated a number of potential sites in South Australia and Victoria with the intention to secure supplies of premium fruit for wine to supply their European and North American markets. They chose Mount Benson as the source of their South Australian fruit. Other vineyard developments of interest in the vicinity include “Port Robe Estate” located between Mount Benson and Robe on the Southern Ports Highway which has planted a white version of cabernet sauvignon known as “Cygne Blanc”. This unique variety was developed by a Swan Valley (WA) vigneron who has chosen Mount Benson as the ideal location to grow it commercially. Viticultural Attributes of the Region Mount Benson is located above an aquifer which provides it with access to ample supplies of high quality underground water with very low levels of salinity, it has the well drained terra rossa soil type favoured for viticulture and a mild maritime climate. Mount Benson’s proximity to the sea gives it a mild maritime climate with a relatively low risk of damage from frost compared to Regions located in the hinterland. This advantage is especially so for vineyards located on the western (coastal) side of the Woakwine Range such as the Community Vineyards. Rainfall is 630ml (25"), two thirds of it falling between May and September with relatively little in summer. Harvest is in March / April. The mild maritime climate mitigates against the disease and fungus based problems which arise in wetter and more humid climates and for the same reason, summer storms and hail are rare. Mean January Temperature is 18.5C The soil is classic terra rossa - red & brown loams over free draining limestone. The Mount Benson Wine Region released its first wine in 1992. Here is a rating of Mount Benson vintages by James Halliday as published in his Australian Wine Companion. Each vintage is rated on a scale of 10 for reds and whites: 2002 – 9 / 9 2003 – 8 / 9 2004 – 7 / 8 2005 – 8 / 9 2006 – 7 / 7 2007 - 7 / 7 2008 – 8 / 8 There are three wineries located in the Region, all in Limestone Coast Road near Cape Jaffa approximately ten kilometres from "Guichen Bay & Wrights Bay Vineyards". Cape Jaffa Wines winery, vineyard and cellar door sales outlet was established in 1994 and was the first winery to be established in Mount Benson. Owned and operated by the Hooper family and crushes approximately 1,000 tonnes of fruit annually supplied by local growers mostly for its own labels. Much of its wine is exported to European and USA markets. Norfolk Rise Wines winery, vineyard and cellar door owned by Kreglinger was established in 2000/2001 and processed its first fruit in 2001. It has a crushing capacity of 5,000 tonnes. The winery makes wine for its own labels including “Norfolk Rise” and on contract. Ralph Fowler Wines winery, vineyard and cellar door was established in 2004. It crushes up to 200 tonnes for its own labels and on contract for local and other producers. Ralph Fowler is a Jimmy Watson trophy winner and was based in Connawarra before moving to Mount Benson Ralph and his daughter Sarah Squire also a winemaker, made our medal winning 2005 shiraz and merlot. In August 2006 , together with another local producer, "Cape Thomas Wines" we opened a cellar door outlet in the Mount Benson Hall when it was reborn as the Mount Benson Regional Tourism and Wine Centre. The Hall, which has been a focal point for community activity and social life in Mount Benson was renovated and refurbished in 2006 with grants from the Commonwealth and South Australian governments. It is located on the Southern Ports Highway at its intersection with Wrights Bay Road,25 kilometres south of Kingston (SE) and 20 kilometres north of Robe;
above - the Mount Benson Wine and Tourism Centre, our home base in Mount Benson and close to our Vineyards in Wrights Bay Road. Other cellar door outlets offer local wines at: · Wehl’s Mount Benson Vineyards in Wrights Bay Road, Mount Benson; · Cape Jaffa Wines;; · Ralph Fowler Wines and · Wangolina Station wines all in Limestone Coast Road; In Robe, Cellarbrations Robe Limestone Coast Liquor Store stocks virtually the entire range of wine from every local producer and regularly conducts tastings of the range of one of the local producers
. Where to eat & stay in the Southern Ports: Restaurants, hotels, motels and B&Bs in Robe, Kingston and Naracoorte stock our wines for diners and guests and are recommended to tourists and travellers- Robe: Dragon Village Restaurant; Guichen Bay Motelclick here; Lake View Motel click here; Robe Haven Motel click here Robe Hotel click here; Sails at Robe; Villa san Danci (B&B) click here; Wild Mulberry Cafe; Kingston (SE): Crown Inn Hotel click here; Lacepede Bay Motel: Royal Mail Hotel click here: Cape Jaffa: Cape Jaffa Caravan Park click here Beachport: Bompas click here; Naracoorte: Naracoorte Hotel/Motel Bushmans' Arms Hotel
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| Copyright © Guichen Bay Vineyards Pty Ltd 2009. Last edited 9 April, 2009 | |||||||||
