Howard Vineyard: Ron samples some of the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia's wines

Many Adelaide Hills bus commuters are probably oblivious to the importance of a monument overlooking one of the many picturesque vineyards on the outskirts of Nairne.

Today the leaves of the savignon blanc vines turn an autumnal gold but back at the turn of last century Hills resident, Amos William Howard was out here looking to buy a cow from a nearby neighbour. In a nearby paddock he noticed a very distinctive clover. It was later identified as trifolium subterranean or 'subterranean clover'. It was a discovery that would transform farming across Australia.

"The clover is part of the lucern family, which puts nitrogen back into the soil," explained Ian Northcott - owner of the Howard Vineyard - a salute to a man who changed Australia forever.

Throughout Australia, the planting of subterranean clover and the use of superphosphate - or sub and super as it's known - worked miracles across the country, bringing clapped out farming country back to life and saving many from financial ruin.

In the cellar door area of the Howard Vineyard the coloured chalk image of Amos Howard looks down on those who gather for a tasting. And nearby in the barrel room, 92 year old local Alan Sargeant recalls the days when he as an eight year old met the famous old nurseryman.

"He was quite a fair and decent chap. He was very religious. Wouldn't do any thrashing or work on Sundays."

Thrashing was how the clover seed was collected and eventually exported to Mediterranean climates around the world.

Today, the Mount Barker cloverleaf takes pride of place on Ian Northcott's Howard Vineyard range. The red wine labels include some words of advice in Amos Howard's own handwriting. According to the Yorkshire nurseryman's script - any good gardener must have knowledge of botany, mineralogy and all the other forces that impact on his or her particular patch of dirt.

The canny Yorkshireman's simple gardening advice is put to good use here in the making of reds and whites on the Hills' slopes around Nairne.

The Howard Vineyard, complete with its monument to the Amos Howard is located on the road between Nairne and Littlehampton. The cellar door is located at Lot 1 on Bald Hills Road. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

The Howard Vineyard
Amos Howard
Monument Road between Nairne and Littlehampton.

Cellar Door
Lot 1 Bald Hills Road
Nairne

Published 24th June 2007