Forty years young. Mount Avoca began with the dream of a Melbourne stock-broker who wanted a tree change 30 years before the term had been coined.
Events in the life of Mount Avoca Vineyard
1967 Fateful decision made to look for land to plant a vineyard
1969 After considerable research land purchased at Avoca
1970 First vines planted - Trebbiano, Shiraz and Semillon
1971 Planted a further 25 acres of Shiraz. These initial plantings were at the suggestion of Chateau Remy who had agreed to buy the fruit produced. At this stage MOUNT AVOCA had not made a firm decision to build a winery
1972 Planted approximately 10 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon
1973 Planted 1000 olive trees
1974-77 Production sold to Chateau Remy and Seppelts except small quantity made into wine at Mount Avoca
1978 Winery built, first commercial vintage
1979 First Gold Medal with first vintage made. Lilydale, 1978 Cabernet
1982 Planted 4 acres Sauvignon Blanc,
1984 Planted 4 acres Chardonnay
1985-87 Increased winery by 200%
1987-89 Grafted several acres of Shiraz to Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Franc
1988 First Trophy - “Best White Wine” National Smallmakers competition, for 1987 Sauvignon Blanc
1990 S. Smith & Son appointed national distributor, (June 1990)
1989 First export sales to Sweden, Canada & U.K
1993 New tasting-room built with views of the vineyard and surrounding Pyrenees ranges
1994 Decision made to plant ten more acres (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc & Merlot) as demand outstrips supply for second year in a row, (plantings over two years 1994-1995).
1995 Mount Avoca celebrates 25 years of operation. Another five acres of Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc planted
1996 Mount Avoca introduces new labels for its 1996 whites and 1994 reds
1997 Matthew Barry moves from marketing and assistant winemaker to process his first vintage. Mount Avoca releases its first "super" premium "Arda's Choice" 1992.
1998 Major investment with purchase of 11 tonne vacuum press - one of only 6 in Australia - only one of its kind in Victoria. Two new wines are introduced and the presentation of all wines in the range is refined
Nov 1998 Mount Avoca wins Best Cabernet 1996 & Best Sauvignon Blanc 1998 in French-Australian Chamber of Commerce Wine Competition.
1999 & 2000 Launch of limited quantities of several Reserve wines.
2001 John and Arda Barry sell the business to the ill-fated Barrington Group
2003 Matthew and Lisa Barry rescue the winery from the clutches of "administration"
2004 - 2007 Mount Avoca works through the effects of the previous management and the wine glut.
2007 John Harris appointed winemaker. Work commences on the 4 star eco-lux luxury lodges. New "man under tree" labels developed to reflect a new direction for Mount Avoca.
2008 eco-luxe built.
2009 Official opening of eco-luxe @ Mount Avoca and the bottling of the first Reserve wine in over 10 years ready for release in 2010.
2010 Mount Avoca celebrates 40 years in style with over 70 medals and acclaim for the Reserve and Limited edition wines.
2011 Floods and hte wettest year on record wipes out the entire vintage. Only a handful of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay survives. The excellent 2009 and 2010 vintages will need to be spread over 3 years.