Remarkable View Wines: In the Mid North region of South Australia
The view from the top of Mount Remarkable is one of a classic South Australian countryside - the wheat and barley fields of the mid north. On the other side are great vistas taking in the top end of Spencer Gulf.
Who would ever have thought that one day you would see vineyards from this remarkable vantage point? But that’s happening as the seemingly relentless march of vines heads towards the Southern Flinders almost to the base of one of its most recognisable landmarks.
“That’s where the name of our vineyard and cellar door has come from - it’s a remarkable view and we're very proud of it.”
In the shadow of Mount Remarkable a six-year-old dream is taking shape for farmer, shearer and businessman Malcolm Orrock and son Todd. When the explorer Edward John Eyre named Mount Remarkable in 1840 he probably thought that one day blokes like Malcolm and Todd would farm this country --- run a few sheep and cattle and maybe reap a crop of two. And for generations that's what the Orrocks did - until Malcolm got the wine bug.
“I was fifty years old when I planted my third grape vine. I had two in the garden before that.”
Now there's enough vines to fill a thousand gardens. After all, availability of land is not a big issue here but water is.
“This is a crop of Sangiovese and it is a very vigorous variety from Italy. We’ve planted it at two and a half metre spacings and in three point for metre rows. There’s very vigorous growth. Our plan is to virtually run them dry.”
There is an underground water supply here which Malcolm and Todd plan to use sparingly. And that means heavy mulching to retain every last drop. Over time, Remarkable View Wines will become another Southern Flinders tourist attraction, complementing one of the region's biggest drawcards - The Mount.
“They can come and sit in the cellar door sales and have a very good view of the Mountain as they sample some of our reds.”
At the cellar door you can sample a range of new wines made in the State's most recently listed wine-growing district. And in true mid-north cocky style, Malcolm's made the most of what's available. The stonework for the cellar door sales area came from the original homestead where he grew up. And there’s an old truck out the front that belonged to his grandfather.
Why not call in all for a new experience in the Southern Flinders - one with a remarkable view. The winery's Cellar Door is located on the main road between Wirrabara and Melrose just past Murray Town.
Remarkable View Wines
P.O Box 63
Booleroo Centre, South Australia, 5482
Phone: 61 (0)8 8667 2223
Cellar: 61(0)8 8666 4215
Fax: 61 (0)8 8667 2165
Email: wines@remarkableview.com.au
Web: www.remarkableview.com.au
