production

THE Angove family is among the quiet achievers of the Australian wine industry – and the Angoves made very little fuss about the 130th birthday of their business making wines and spirits. Established in 1886 by Dr William Angove, the Angove wine business has evolved to be one of Australia’s most diversified and successful family owned and operated wine companies. With grape growing interests across the many regions of South Australia, it is McLaren Vale and the Warboys Vineyard that are setting the future direction for the family. The Warboys Vineyard comprises 13ha planted to old vine shiraz and grenache. Over the last three years, the removal of merlot and cabernet sauvignon has made way for further plantings of grenache, shiraz, carignan and Italian white variety fiano. The vineyard is certified and managed with organic and biodynamic farming practices. “For us, organics is all about sustainable farming and soil health,” said Richard Angove. “At the end of the day grapes derive their flavour from the soil in which they grow; our aim is to have the healthiest soil we possibly can, this means grapes of the highest flavour and wines that speak of where they are grown.” While history and a strong philosophy around the notion of family underpin the business, the fifth generation of Victoria, Richard and Sophie Angove are looking forward to where the business is heading rather than where it has been. “It is really important to recognise the enormously hard work our father John has done over many years, not to mention our grandfather, great grandfather and his father before him,” said Victoria. “We feel, though, that we are younger than we have ever been and have incredible opportunities ahead of us. It is exciting and a great feeling that our best winemaking is still in front of us”. Sophie recently joined the operation, meaning for the first time there are three members of the fifth generation of the Angove family working in the business.