If you’re
interested in going on a tour of Canowindra’s cellar doors, be sure to drop by
Wallington Wines for a taste of their famous wines. Since 1992, Wallington
Wines has been producing a wide variety of wines including fortified and
bubblies from its farm in Canowindra. After moving from Sydney to New South
Wales in 1990, Anthony and Margaret Wallington established their vineyard and
started growing grapes and olives. They have expanded varieties grown, and
produce French- and Spanish-style wines on their special patch of land in the
central west of N.S.W., eastern Australia.
The Wallingtons
have a ground breaking approach to growing their vines and running the
vineyard. Margaret Wallington has been working hard to make the farm
sustainable, converting their land to be a certified organic and biodynamic
property. They also raise sheep and cattle, then use the animals to fertilize
the land and for a little weed-eating. They now have biodynamic certification
and have been growing organic beef and lamb. Eventually, the Wallingtons would
like to expand their offerings to include home-grown vegetables.
The Wallingtons
have a ground breaking approach to growing their vines and running the
vineyard. Margaret Wallington has been working hard to make the farm
sustainable, converting their land to be a certified organic and biodynamic
property. They also raise sheep and cattle, then use the animals to fertilize
the land and for a little weed-eating. They now have biodynamic certification
and have been growing organic beef and lamb. Eventually, the Wallingtons would
like to expand their offerings to include home-grown vegetables.
The vines are
grown in brown loam or red clay soils, where there is a low incidence of
disease. The Wallingtons use minimal irrigation for small, but flavourful,
berries. The grapes are handpicked and harvested during the dry autumn season.
Crushing happens afterward. And if you’d really like to get involved, the
Wallingtons open the vineyard for visitors interested in joining them in
picking and harvesting In March and April.
Their winery is
built from large Straw Bales almost a metre thick, this provides insulation to
keep the Wallington wines at a constantly low temperature during fermentation.
Functions including wine tasting are often held in the straw bale winery. The
reds are then fermented in open vats, the whites in oak or stainless steel.
Once completely fermented, they use a basket press and transfer the wines into
varieties of French and American oak to mature. They use minimal chemical
intervention in their winemaking process.
The Wallington’s
cellar is open seven days a week for tastings, but make sure you book an
appointment in advance. Get a taste of their product lines, which include
fortified wines, whites, and reds. These include chardonnay, Semillon, pinot
noir, Petit Verdot, Shiraz, Grenache and others. The winery is also open for
private wine tasting and functions, which includes a tour of the vineyard.
Apart from wines
Wallingtons, have expanded their product range to include olive oil, also harvested
from their vineyard. Join them when they participate at Canowindra’s annual 100
Mile Dinner, where chefs and winemakers gather to showcase their products to
patrons across 100 miles of Canowindra, including Orange, Bathurst, Mudgee, and
Cowra.
Be sure to
explore the various foods and drink offerings of Canowindra. To know more about
home grown wines in New South Wales, visit the Wallingtons’ cellar and sample
their wines and spirits. Wallington wines are a good start when looking to
patronize locally produced wines. You will marvel at the high quality wines
that can rival European quality, grown right here in Australia.
