Drawing people to the vines
Laharum winery hopes to capitalise on the beautiful surrounds of the Grampians northern fringe this autumn, drawing people out of bottle-shops and into the vineyards.
Mount Staplyton Wines owners, the Staehr family, have integrated a new tasting area into the property’s historical 1920s stables, rebuilt in the 1960s, encapsulating the winery’s multifaceted farming capabilities.
It hopes the construction of the tasting area will give visitors the chance to sample a piece of the property’s various features.
The boutique winery owners, originally grain and sheep farmers, continue to ply the original farming trades on the property.
The Weekly Advertiser spoke to Mary and her son Robert Staehr ahead of the tasting area’s official Mother’s Day opening.
Mrs Staehr said there was a lot of history attached to the property.
“The previous owners kept their trotting stud in the stable,” she said.
“We wanted to make the property’s history part of the experience.
“Wine tasters can sip on their shiraz or granache and see the lambs, they can see the grain header going or the grain feeder operating.
“This place has a big story to tell and we have only just started exploring that with our customers.”
Mount Stapylton Wines has always been a family affair.
Mary and Robert purchased the next-door vineyard property from family member Howard Staehr in
2018 to add to their grain and sheep farm.
Robert Staehr said he helped plant the original vineyard in 2002.
Mr Staehr, originally a grain and sheep farmer, added viticulture studies to his portfolio and has incorporated the property’s diverse features into an agribusiness-tourism venture.
“Everyone says viticulture is nothing like grain farming, but there are a lot of similarities,” he said.
“It is all about vine health, having good vine balance, which is like looking after the grain crop.
“You can pump up the grain or
stress it out – both are about managing the crops balance.”
Mr Staehr said the winery was the most northernmost vineyard in the Grampians fringe and that allowed for a distinctive grape quality.
“We get a lot more heat and a lot less disease pressure,” he said.
“Although, we still get cold and cool nights where the vines are able to relax and refresh after the heat.
“All this promotes the intensity of the fruit.”
Mr Staehr said he was excited about this year’s vintage.
“Last year was a big crop for us and this year will be a little bit smaller,
which isn’t bad,” he said. “It is tasting good in the barrel. We had big berries with a lot of hang time.
“The grapes had a cool finish though when the rain freshened up the vines, so the fruit came home strong.”
Mount Staplyton Wines will launch its new tasting area on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, with a four-course ‘paddock to plate’ lunch, live music and wine tasting.
“It is time to get our wine in people’s mouths,” Mr Staehr said,
People wanting more information can visit website, mountstapylton wines.com.au.