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| ACCLAIMED label had its beginnings back in 1912 at the hands of a teetotaller. |
COLOURFUL YARNS BEHIND CLASSIC LABELS
David Ellis
THERE'S many a colourful story around the founding and success of so many Australian wine companies, one such being McLaren Vale's acclaimed d'Arenberg Wines whose founder, a Mr Joseph Osborn was a teetotaller who sold a stable of prize-winning horses to buy the property in 1912 that now houses the d'Arenberg winery, cellar door and restaurant.
And although a teetotaller he was also a director of wine company Thomas Hardy and Sons, so knew plenty about the industry and with son Frank bought several vineyards around their property. On his death in 1921 young Frank took control, initially selling their grapes to other wineries before building the family winery in 1927.
When he too fell ill in the early 1940s his son Francis (generally known as d'Arry) left school at 16 years of age to help his father, taking full control on his father's death in 1957, and creating the d'Arenberg label after his mother's maiden name.
D'Arry's son Chester joined-up in 1984, cementing d'Arenberg's place firmly on the Australian wine map, and now as Chief Winemaker creates some sixty wines annually from 25 grape varieties. One current outstanding drop is a 2017 "The Money Spider" Roussanne that has marvellous flavours spanning green mango, papaya and pickled ginger, and at $20 is great value to enjoy with shellfish, pork or veal dishes.
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