NEW SHADE OF WINE
Clare Allen, Busselton Margaret River Times
A Yallingup wine nursery is harnessing all its tricks of the trade and launching a new wine venture.
Chris and Alice Harding have successfully made a name for themselves in the wine business since 1994 with their Viticlone Supplies Grapevine Nursery, specialising in niche wine varieties.
The couple are now adding a further string to their bow with the launch of the Seven Ochres Vineyard.
"We saw the opportunity to offer an alternative wine variety as our multi rose and foundation collection starting showing fruits,'' Mr Harding said.
"It will be a small production and available through mail order, email or telephone to wineries that are interested in the varieties.''
Despite the small crop, the Hardings have a wide range of products available. Mr Harding said it was a good chance to showcase wines that are not easy to get hold of such as Italian
varieties.
The couple's vine nursery specialises in propagating niche wines with more than 60 wine grape varieties and a total of over 120 clones from which Seven Ochres will be able to access
fruit.
The new venture's licence was issued 12 years to the day the Hardings and their young family arrived in WA.
"I have been involved in all aspects of the industry and it is exciting to be finally producing our own wines,'' he said.
"The reasoning behind the wine venture was partly to find out how some of the new varieties, which we have helped introduce to WA, perform in this environment, and partly for the sheer enjoyment of producing our own wines.''
Seven Ochres first wines on release are the 2006 Viognier and a 2005 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot.
The Hardings' nursery was one of the first vineyards in the State to plant the French, white variety Viognier, believing that it would do particularly well in the northern end of the Margaret River region where they live.
"The belief has been justified and this will be our flagship wine. With only a few acres of Viognier vines planted, production is always going to be small, and availability of each vintage will be limited,'' Mr Harding said.
The operation is now up and running with other varieties such as Roussanne, Vermentino and Dolcetto to be released in the near future.
