PIONEERS OF THE WINE INDUSTRY By Melissa Walsh
T
hey have always been pioneers in the winemaking industry since Garry Crittenden’s long-standing love of wine saw him move from horticulture to viticulture and undertake his first plantings in 1982. That was on a mere five acres and since then he has led the way in the establishment of new grape varietals in Victoria including barbera, nebbiolo, dolcetto and sangiovese, ensured the evolvement of the wine industry on the peninsula, and now the family, including daughter Zoe and son Rollo, have set up a wine centre to offer a unique tasting experience. After growing up on the farm the second generation of Crittendens are now fully immersed in the running of the business. Rollo is now viticulturist and winemaker whilst Zoe takes care of the marketing. The third generation, whilst too young to be helping in the vineyard yet, enjoy the pleasure of being surrounded by vines and dirt. “At Crittenden Estate vineyard we have a tasting and wine appreciation venue which offers a different experience from your usual cellar door. Visitors are offered seats and asked which varieties they would like to taste by our very knowledgeable and friendly staff,” said Zoe. “There are lots to choose from and learn about as we make more than two dozen wines, including the region's signature pinot noir and chardonnay as well as Italian and Spanish varieties under the Pinocchio and Los Hermanos labels.” Winemaker Rollo Crittenden says the centre aims to be a new model for wine tourism in Australia, where visitors are offered seats and asked which varieties they would like to try before being guided through their choices with written notes or electronic tablets. “The plan is to also teach visitors about the more general attributes of the Mornington Peninsula as a wine region, and to offer information about the winemaking process,” said Rollo. The range of wines on offer at Crittenden, all available for purchase online and at the Crittenden Wine Centre, reflects Garry and Rollo’s innovative winemaking styles. As one of the first producers in the country to embrace styles from Italy and Spain they have developed a reputation for taking an experimental approach towards their wine continued next page...
Crittenden Estate WINE CENTRE
Enjoy seated tastings in our contemporary Wine Centre where knowledgeable staff will guide you through a custom designed wine journey. A large range of alternative and traditional wines can be sampled in a format that is innovative and makes tasting wine an experience in
Open Daily 10:30am - 4:30pm | Ph 03 5987 3800 | www.crittendenwines.com.au
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January 2018
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