Celebrating 100 Years of d'Arenberg

In this modern era of winemakers flitting about the world honing their craft in places like California, France, Germany and South Africa, there are still winemakers about who have stuck to the one winery for many years.  Names such as Andrew Wigan (Peter Lehmann Wines), Father John May (Sevenhill), Grant Burge, Vanya Cullen, Alistair Pubric (Tahbilk) and Bruce Tyrrell to name but a few.  There is a gentleman (and I mean that in the true sense of the word) who is about to do his 70th vintage at his family owned winery in McLaren Vale, SA.  Francis d'Arenberg Osborn, better known as d'Arry is 86 years old, still helps out at vintage, travels Australia and the world promoting his wine at tastings and occasionally pokes his head in at cellar door for a chat.  I have been a fan of d'Arenberg wines for some years now and have many of their different reds tucked away.  The Dead Arm Shiraz, Coppermine Road Cabernet, Footbolt Shiraz, Derelict Vineyard Grenache and Ironstone Pressings GSM are but only a few of the (roughly) 60 different wines produced by d'Arenberg, all of which are available for tasting at their cellar door.  There are also names such as; Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc, Lucky Lizard Chardonnay, Cenosilicaphobic Cat Sagrantino Cinsault, Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier, The (controversial) Noble Botryotinia Fuckeliana Semillon Sauvignon Blanc.  To be in a position to be able to celebrate 100 years in the industry and still be a family owned winery is a testament to the d'Arenbergs and to their wines.  If you haven't yet tried one of the range, do so.  If you haven't been to their cellar door, do so.  If you get the opportunity to meet d'Arry, go up to him and say g'day.  'Till next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.