Winery History For many years the Shire of Dardanup has been home to the premium dairy country in Western Australia. Small dairies supplied high quality milk from the beautiful rolling countryside in the Ferguson Valley. Times changed and the old dairy farm in Henty Road became available in 1996. Realising the potential of this area for viticulture and offer was made and the concept of Wovenfield was born.
An experienced local viticulturalist, Phil Gumbrell, was engaged to provide advice and plans were drawn for a three stage planting program. Work began shortly after, on selecting the most promising paddocks and 5 hectares of Shiraz and Semillon were planted in 1997. The richness of the loam soils, excellent water supplies and vigorous cuttings all resulted in rapid vine growth. The first crop in 2000 was sold and fruit quality was excellent. A small parcel of Verdlho was also established to provide fruit for our own embryonic wine production.
Stage two in 1998 was the planting of 7.5 hectares of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Plantings were established quickly and the fruit quality was excellent.
A trip to the Rhone valley in France kindled a strong interest in the variety Viognier. A plan was formulated to get some rootlings and make a start. In 2002 Stage three began, incorporating a beautiful 3.5 hectare northwest facing paddock wth excellent soils and great drainage. With little or no viticultural information on Viognier to follow the rootlings were tended carefully and expectantly. Fortunately Voignier seemed to take to the hot summers and cool winters like a duck to water. An expansion of the Viognier planting was undertaken in 2005. To date our first productive crop in 2005 was a success and our first homegrown Shiraz/Viognier was born the same year.
In 2004 a keen in interest in Sauvignon Blanc and an over supply of red grapes inspired a grafting program of 1.85 hectares from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc. Very well suited to the microclimate, the Sauvignon Blanc is doing well and the first crop from 2006 will create Wovenfield's first Semillon Sauvignon Blanc to be released later in 2006.
A tiny amount of Tempranillo has been planted experimentally and early indications are excellent. Cuttings of Pinot Gris are expected to be planted in the later months of 2006.
We have been fortunate that the soil, drainage and microclimate have all contributed to make the vines at Wovenfield productive of full flavoured wines. To date the range of wines from Wovenfield include a Verdelho, Shiraz, Merlot, Shiraz/Viognier and a Cabernet Rose.
Vintage 2008 has seen some changes to the winemaking team and vineyard management with Johan Dreyer taking over the day to day running of the vineyard. He brings a wealth of experience from his work in South Africa and California. Rienne Buck is managing the property and will take on winemaking responsibilities for our Rose, Verdelho and range of fortified wines. Rienne and Johan have made a liqueur Merlot in 2008 for release in 2009. New plantings of Muscat and Pinot Gris this year(2008)will compliment our range of wines.
Our new cellar door is in the planning stage and we hope to open our new facility and Pizzaria at the end of 2009."
