Grampians Estate: New Sheep Series wine reflects on a history in the industry
Grampians Estate’s latest release of their ‘Sheep Series’ wine acknowledges a history in the sheep and wool industry in western Victoria.
SARAH and Tom Guthrie are raising a toast to their farming heritage with the release of their new Sheep Series wine.
The couple run Grampians Estate winery at Great Western in western Victoria, alongside a prime lamb operation at their property at Mafeking and wanted something to link the two businesses.
“We wanted to connect our link with the wool and sheep industry and then tell the history of that,” Mrs Guthrie said.
“It’s a good marriage really.”
Released six years after the Guthrie’s family history book The Longest Drive, the Sheep Series has links back to the book, featuring the names The Wool Classer, Field’s Crossing and The Longest Drive.
All three wines are different varials of red, with a grenache, a tempranillo and a mix of grenache, tempranillo and shiraz — the signature grape variety of the Grampians.
Like many businesses in the area, the lockdowns at Easter meant Grampians Estate took a hit in sales, but their website has been getting traffic.
“We have been doing quite a lot of online sales, and in some cases arranging drive through phone orders. We have a special on a mixed coronavirus dozen on the website, which includes one of the Sheep Series,” Mrs Guthrie said.
They are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to their winery and spruiking the new products, with the completion of a cellar door extension and new kitchen.
“We’ll be able to offer more of an experience for people when they come. There’s now a deck where people can look out onto the vines and immerse yourself in the vineyard,” Mrs Guthrie said.
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