By Andy Young
The Angove Family is celebrating 130 years of wine and spirits making in South Australia and says that the best is still to come.
Sophie, Richard and Victoria Angove
The Angove wine business was established in 1886 by Dr William Angove and now has grape growing interests across many regions of South Australia. In particular McLaren Vale and the Warboys Vineyard are setting the future direction for the family.
The Warboys Vineyard represents 33 acres of grape growing country in the heart of McLaren Vale and is 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 bio-dynamic farming practices. Richard Angove said: "For us, organics is all about sustainable farming and soil health. 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."
The family is now in its fifth generation with Richard working alongside Victoria and Sophie. And while the family is rightly proud of its heritage, the three of them firmly have their sights set on the future.
"It is really important to recognise the enormously hard work our father John has made over many years, not to mention our Grandfather, Great Grandfather and his father before him, as well as the fantastic team we have at the winery and around Australia," Victoria said.
"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 Angove has recently joined the family business meaning for the first time there are three members of the fifth generation of the Angove Family working in the business.