A snapshot of the Cowra & Canowindra winegrowing region
The winemakers from the Cowra and Canowindra wine region have united to promote their wonderful winegrowing region, showcasing a dozen wines that highlight the direction that the region is headed.
The Cowra winegrowing region is re-inventing itself. As the industry monoliths move out of the district the remaining family orientated winegrowers are focused on developing their regional identity through careful winemaking with the least environmental impact of any region in Australia.
“We are not the first families of Australian wine,” commented Cowra Regional Vineyards Association President, and owner of Swinging Bridge wines, Tom Ward, “but we are winegrowing families with a rich history and heritage, and we are the icon winemakers of our region with a vested interest in its success.”
This group of winemakers is ensuring that the wines deliver both quality and value. Local grapes, once taken from the region for processing, are now made into wine locally. On-site wineries include Wallington, Toms Waterhole and the oldest winery in the region, Windowrie. Local winemaking team Chris Derrez and Lucy Maddox are also helping a number of other vignerons make their wines.
The region is one of the first to develop the Sustainable Wine Partnership, a framework for sustainability which encompasses the Eight National Environmental Outcomes of the National Heritage Trust, the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia’s Australian Wine Industry Stewardship Program (AWIS) and the priorities of the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority.
Whilst the Cowra and Canowindra region was built on the quality of its Chardonnay, the new generation of wineries, including Mulyan, Windowrie, Swinging Bridge and Spring Ridge have received a number of national trophies and awards for other varieties such as Shiraz, Sangiovese and Shiraz Viognier that ranks the wines with some of the best in Australia.
Master of Wine Nick Bulleid was surprised by the Shiraz being made in Cowra when judging at the Cowra Wine Awards. “Common words in my notes were ’rich, ripe, soft, stylish, balanced’, not terms that I’d have associated with Cowra reds in the past.”
“Although the Cowra Canowindra region has been making wine for over 30 years, it is the future that we are excited about,” said Tom enthusiastically. “We have the vineyards, people, and commitment and we are pleased to be seeing in a new era for our region.”
For more information and images please visit www.winesofcowra.com.au or contact:
Tom Ward, President CRVA: 0409 246 609 or tom@swingingbridge.com.au
David Cumming, Define Wine: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
The Cowra winegrowing region is re-inventing itself. As the industry monoliths move out of the district the remaining family orientated winegrowers are focused on developing their regional identity through careful winemaking with the least environmental impact of any region in Australia.
“We are not the first families of Australian wine,” commented Cowra Regional Vineyards Association President, and owner of Swinging Bridge wines, Tom Ward, “but we are winegrowing families with a rich history and heritage, and we are the icon winemakers of our region with a vested interest in its success.”
This group of winemakers is ensuring that the wines deliver both quality and value. Local grapes, once taken from the region for processing, are now made into wine locally. On-site wineries include Wallington, Toms Waterhole and the oldest winery in the region, Windowrie. Local winemaking team Chris Derrez and Lucy Maddox are also helping a number of other vignerons make their wines.
The region is one of the first to develop the Sustainable Wine Partnership, a framework for sustainability which encompasses the Eight National Environmental Outcomes of the National Heritage Trust, the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia’s Australian Wine Industry Stewardship Program (AWIS) and the priorities of the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority.
Whilst the Cowra and Canowindra region was built on the quality of its Chardonnay, the new generation of wineries, including Mulyan, Windowrie, Swinging Bridge and Spring Ridge have received a number of national trophies and awards for other varieties such as Shiraz, Sangiovese and Shiraz Viognier that ranks the wines with some of the best in Australia.
Master of Wine Nick Bulleid was surprised by the Shiraz being made in Cowra when judging at the Cowra Wine Awards. “Common words in my notes were ’rich, ripe, soft, stylish, balanced’, not terms that I’d have associated with Cowra reds in the past.”
“Although the Cowra Canowindra region has been making wine for over 30 years, it is the future that we are excited about,” said Tom enthusiastically. “We have the vineyards, people, and commitment and we are pleased to be seeing in a new era for our region.”
For more information and images please visit www.winesofcowra.com.au or contact:
Tom Ward, President CRVA: 0409 246 609 or tom@swingingbridge.com.au
David Cumming, Define Wine: 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
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