Plantagenet Winery

Plantagenet takes its name not only from its home, but also from its heritage. In 1968 in a stroke of serendipity English migrant Tony Smith, himself a descendent of the Plantagenet's, invested his small inheritance in a farm called Bouverie in Western Australia’s Plantagenet Shire.He first planted Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon followed by Riesling three years later. The first wines from these young vines were tight and lean and showed the elegant spice and fruit characters for which this area was to become known 1. English royal house which reigned from 1154 to 1399 (Henry 2nd to Richard 2nd), the name coming from the nickname of Henry’s father, Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, who habitually wore a sprig of broom – L. planta genista. 2. Rural shire, or region, surrounding the town of Mount Barker, just north of the port of Albany in the south west of Western Australia. Like many local landmarks, it was named by early English settlers who favoured royalist titles. Tony first planted trial vineyards of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon on his Bouverie property, then three years later more vines, including Riesling were planted on the neighbouring Wyjup farm. In 1974 Plantagenet Wines produced its first vintage. In 1975 an apple packing shed on the main highway in the nearby town of Mount Barker was bought and converted into the region’s first winery and cellar door. While the apple packing shed is no longer in evidence, the winery and cellar door are still on the original land. Vineyard expansion continued in the late 1980s with the establishment of the aptly named Rocky Horror vineyards south of Mount Barker. Finally in 1999 the Rosetta vineyard, west of the township was planted. In 2000, Tony moved to the role of Chairman and winery Ambassador when Plantagenet Wines was fully purchased by shareholders Lionel Samson and Son. Lionel Samson and Son happen to also be the oldest family business in Australia and since inception a much respected wine and spirits distributor.In 2004 Plantagenet Wines celebrated its 30th anniversary. In 2009 Lionel Samson and Son celebrate its 180th anniversary.

 



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