Vasse Felix

Vasse Felix
Location Caves Road,
Margaret River WA 6284, Australia
Coordinates 33°49′21″S 115°02′15″E / 33.82250°S 115.03750°ECoordinates: 33°49′21″S 115°02′15″E / 33.82250°S 115.03750°E
Wine region Margaret River
Founded 1967
First vintage 1971
Varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Shiraz
Distribution International
Tasting Open to public
Website Vasse Felix

Vasse Felix was the first vineyard and winery to be established in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia.[1][2] Founded in Cowaramup in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, it is recognised as a pioneer of the region,[3] and also features an acclaimed restaurant.[4]

History

Grounds at the Vasse Felix cellar door

Cardiologist Dr. Tom Cullity planted the first Margaret River vines on the eight acres of land that he had bought for $75 an acre on Harman’s Road south, in 1967. (In 2011 this road was renamed 'Tom Cullity Drive'). Dr Cullity named his property “Vasse Felix”, a name the much-extended vineyard still bears today. The area known as Vasse was named after a French sailor named Thomas Timothee Vasse who was lost overboard off the coast in the area from the “Naturaliste” in 1801. And “Felix” is Latin for “happy”, or "fortunate". [3]

The first vintage at Vasse Felix was disappointing, with the harvest being substantially reduced by attacks from silver eyes, and by the after-effects of bunch rot. However, by the 1970s the winery was winning medals at the Perth Royal Show.[5]

Restaurant

The restaurant at Vasse Felix was awarded two stars, and won the award for the Regional Restaurant of the Year, in The West Australian Good Food Guide 2013.[4]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Margaret River Wine History". Margaret River Wine Industry Association. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  2. ↑ Halliday, James. "Australian Wine Companion". Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Margaret River wine region history". Margaret River wine region history. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Broadfield, Rob (ed) (2012). The West Australian Good Food Guide 2013. Osborne Park, WA: West Australian Publishers. pp. 12, 14 and 126. ISBN 9780987171948.
  5. ↑ Wiltshire 2000, p. 21.

Bibliography

  • Halliday, James (1985). The Australian Wine Compendium. North Ryde, NSW: Angus & Robertson. pp. 473–477, 490–507. ISBN 0207151377.
  • Halliday, James (2008). James Halliday's Wine Atlas of Australia (rev. ed.). Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. pp. 234–239. ISBN 9781740666855.
  • Jordan, Ray (2002). Wine: Western Australia's Best. Osborne Park, WA: The West Australian. pp. 50–99. ISBN 0909699887.
  • Scott, Jane; Negus, Patricia (2011). Stories from the Cellar Door: Fifty Margaret River Wineries Tell Their Tales. North Fremantle, WA: Cape to Cape Publishing. pp. 90–91, 107–109, 112. ISBN 9780980333763.
  • Wiltshire, Trea (2000). Margaret River. Australian Wine Regions series. Singapore: R. Ian Lloyd Productions. ISBN 9810426747.
  • Zekulich, Michael (2000). Wine Western Australia (all new ed.). Perth: St George Books. pp. 219–222. ISBN 0867780614.

External links