05 Jun Off the Vine, Season 1, Ep 6

Click here to watch Off the Vine, Season 1, Ep 6 now

Richmond Grove Vineyard: In 1897 EG Hoffman inherited his father’s mixed farm and orange grove on the outskirts of Tanunda. He planted vines along the North Para river that ran through the property and established a winery that he called Orange Grove Wine Cellars. In those days the winery produced mainly fortified wines. In 1945, as he had no heir (only three daughters) he sold the winery to 68 year old Leo Buring, who changed the name of the winery to Chateau Leonay. Buring died in 1962 and the winery became a subsidiary of Lindeman’s. Richmond Grove was originally an Upper Hunter Valley Winery founded in 1973. It enjoyed considerable success in the 1980s and needed to expand. Chateau Leonay was bought by ORLANDO in the early 1990s, the home base was moved to this 100 year old Leo Buring winery and renamed Richmond Grove. John Vickery is one of Australia’s most influential and successful winemakers. Throughout the 60s and 70s he achieved particular success with his legendary Rieslings. In 1973 he transferred to the Linderman’s Coonawarra winery with the task of enhancing their red wines. In 1981 he won the coveted Jimmy Watson trophy. He returned to Chateau Leonay (now Richmond Grove) in 1983 and has remained there ever since. He has been a Barossa winemaker through 45 vintages and has won more that 50 trophies and 400 gold medals for his white wines and over 35 trophies and 200 gold medals for his red wines.