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Press
Extract
from The Echo newspaper - September 9th 2002 |
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A
local drop to try |
By
SIMON THOMSEN Many people dream of one day running a
vineyard and making wine. Brian and Doris Mull turned that dream
into reality five years ago, when they established Flood Reserve
Vineyard, at Tatham, between Lismore and Casing. The property,
on the rich red soils of Red Hill, gets its name from the old
flood reserve at Tatham, gazetted in the 1800s.
Brian likes a challenge – something evidenced by the fact
that he decided to make wine in a sub-tropical region. “I’ve
always loved wine and I just thought that it could be done here.
They make whine everywhere now, even in tropical areas. We produced
grapes as good as anywhere last year, but it’s always a
challenge. Brian said.
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| Doris
and Brian Mull with the current vintage from Flood Reserve Vineyard
at Tatham |
So
in 1999, he planted his first vines, having propagated them himself,
sourcing the root stock from Griffith and Port Macquarie, having
talked to the local Italians, who already have a century of experience
in local win making. |
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They’re
growing four types of grapes, perched up on Red Hill. There are
two reds – the little seen French varietal Chambourcin,
and the popular Cabernet Sauvignon; and two whites – Verdelho
and Chardonnay.There’s about 2.5 hectares, containing around
2500 vines.
The harvest season begins in mid-January and finishes mid to late-February.
Last year they picked about 10 tonne of grapes, producing 675
litres of cabernet, 200 litres of chardonnay and 600 litres of
Verdelho.
Brian eschews the hi-tech approach to wine making, replying more
on common sense and instinct, and using techniques passed on from
local Italians. The grapes are crushed in a basket press and the
wines are hand made. The finished wine is not filtered.
“Good wine can be made with very simple technology –
it was made for thousands of years before they had refrigerated
stainless steel tanks,” Brian said.
“I believe win is a food and should be drunk every day.”
He uses very little preservative in the wines, which means that
while they’re not big cellaring wines, people who are allergic
to sulphur find they can drink Flood Reserve wines.
Currently, Brian describes his winemaking as his “second
full-time job”, but he hopes to retire one day to concentrate
on the grapes.
“I always thought it would be a good lifestyle. We used
to go on holidays and enjoyed visiting vineyards and talking to
the winemaker,” he said.
You can talk to the winemaker this weekend. Flood Reserve Vineyard
will be at Farmarama on Friday and Saturday.
Flood Reserve wines are priced between $7 and $10 and are available
at Lismore Cellars, the Gollan Hotel and Rous Hotel, and Littles
Liquor in Casino. You can also order on the Net at www.floodreserve.com
You’re also welcome to visit the vineyard by appointment.
Phone 6663 1205 before to head out for a chat and a glass.
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