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| They stared
when we came out to plant the vines… 'Grazing country', said
the locals, 'only some loony from the city would plant vines there.' In
1975, Coonawarra had grown grapes for a century, but Koppamurra’s was
only the second vineyard to establish just to the north of Coonawarra,
at a little place called Joanna in the region now known as Wrattonbully.
More than thirty years later, Wrattonbully is recognised as a premier
wine-growing area, with almost as many vines as its better known
neighbour – certainly an accolade to John Greenshields, who planted
Koppamurra’s vineyard there. |
| Koppamurra
bought a very pretty property at Norton Summit in the Adelaide Hills –
where it had some very successful years. However, wine
partnerships, like other human relationships, move on. In 2006 the
partners decided that their various interests would be best served by
splitting the partnership. Two partners took the Norton Summit
property and the winemaking facility, two partners took the Koppamurra
name, business and stock. |
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| In
1991, new partners came into the business and a new focus on
marketing direct to the customers – not so unusual now, but fairly new
at the time. The direct marketing concept has served Koppamurra well
ever since. |
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| We
now purchase fruit from premium vineyards in several SA regions - At
present, Riesling from Watervale, Clare;
Shiraz, Grenache, GSM, Rose from McLaren Vale; Pinot Noir, Pinot
Gris, Chardonnay from Adelaide Hills; Touriga Nacional from the Barossa;
Shiraz from Padthaway and Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra. |
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| In
2006, we wrote ‘the times are not easy for small winemakers, but...
we are still in business’ – in 2024, the times are still
uneasy and... we are still in business. Koppamurra will keep on
making affordable wine of quality and interest and with a degree of
difference as it has done for over 40 years |
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| Whilst
during his studies he worked for Koppamurra, assisting with all
winemaking processes, from vintages 2000-2008, he also sought to gain
further winemaking experience at Step Rd, Hardy’s Tintara, Scarpantoni
Wines and Haselgrove Wines. |
| He
then led to gain further experience by completing a vintage at La Crema
Winery in California, where he was on the international winemaking team
for a 5,500 tonne crush in 2008. |
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| Following
partnership changes at Koppamurra, Damian was named winemaker in 2008.
So, for over 15 years he has made a significant contribution to both the
direction and quality of our wines, he selects fruit from premium
vineyards in SA and handles the full winemaking process through to
bottling. His family have bottled
our wines for over 40 years. |
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| Utilising
the wide range of skills and techniques acquired over the past 15+
years, we have now begun to see much award and acclaim from our wines,
with Gold Medals at the Royal Adelaide Show, Royal Melbourne Show,
Winewise Magazine National Show, Small Winemakers National Show and
International Riesling Challenge over a number of years. |
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