Orlando Vineyards: Gramps Barossa Valley

Colin Gramp is a legend in the Australian wine industry and is also part of a legendary family. He's the great grandson of Johann Gramp who came to South Australia from Germany in 1837. Soon after arriving, he married Eleanor and set about establishing what's believed to be the first commercial vineyard in the Barossa Valley. That was here at Jacob's Creek. It's dry now but the first vines planted by its banks more than one hundred and fifty years ago have prompted a veritable flood of wine much of which is now sold the world over. And if these river red gums could talk, they'd tell the story of old Johann Gramp and the hours he spent in the cellar of this old cottage. "This is where it all began with Johann Gramp and you see these casks here today they're maturing fortified wines but of course fortified wines have been surpassed by our table wines like your clarets, shiraz and of course your Rieslings." "So these fortified wines show us how far we've come and in a sense the role you've played in the development of wine because you were the springboard from this sort of technology and this sort of wine to something totally different?" "Yes that's correct. In 1946 when I rejoined the company after a stint in the Airforce in the United Kingdom, we were then producing about 75 percent in fortified wines, ports and sherries, muskets and tokays and only about twenty five percent of table wines." But Colin's experimentation would soon change all that. After returning from service in the RAAF as a tail gunner on Sunderland Flying Boats, Colin Gramp set about introducing some of the wine making techniques he'd seen overseas. And the wine he was to make revolutionised our drinking habits. In the fifties at much the same time the other legend Max Schubert was experimenting with his big reds, Colin had embraced cold pressure fermentation as used by the great Riesling makers of Germany. "First we should have a look at the Riesling. I think that is the only bottle left of our first vintage 1953 which revolutionised white table wine making in Australia." "So that and the Barossa Pearl, changed wine drinking habits didn't they and a whole flood of new wine drinkers came onto the market." "That is correct because you could imagine all of a sudden people weren't interested in fortified wines. They were looking for something easy and delicate to drink...this was the wine."

Colin's new Rieslings and his sparkling wine, Barossa Pearl, hit the market with a bang bringing with them millions of new converts to wine, especially women. It seems along way from Johann's cellar, a place which is sure to become a shrine for those passionate about Australia's winemaking history as it's been for the generations of Gramp winemakers. For Colin, a walk through the recently replanted Jacob's Creek vineyard confirms it's his connection with the Barrosa. "I feel that I could be just doing what Johann was doing one hundred and fifty two years ago...walking here in the vineyard and having a look at these vines and with a great thrill seeing that they were bearing, I feel, top quality Rhine Riesling grapes." And Colin, the sole surviving member of the first Barossa Vintage Festival Committee has no doubts about what these grapes should be used for. "Wines that you can enjoy with food at the table, I think this is so important. Years ago in the fortified wine days you'd have sherry as an appetiser and port to keep you warm." "And this really is to have with your meal?" "And this is to have with your meal and to enjoy life." And that's pretty much the recipe of this year's Barossa Vintage Festival which gets underway tomorrow. One of the many attractions will be the Jacob's Creek Heritage Picnic next to Johann Gramp's Cellar. It will be held on Tuesday from 11.30am to 4pm. Bookings are essential on 8521 3171. For more information you can email info@postcards.sa.com.au for any further enquiries.