The Chateau Tahbilk story ...
Hard to believe that it has been over 24 years (June 2000) since 'Chateau Tahbilk' morphed to being just Tahbilk, a change that coincided with our viticultural region being recognised as 'Nagambie Lakes' ... two significant and important changes.
Firstly, casting our minds back you may recall that Australia had agreed with the European Community to phase out the use of Traditional Expressions such as Champagne, Port, Sherry, Claret, Burgundy, Sauternes etc., on Australian wine labels.
At the time we expected that even terms such as Domaine and Chateau would be required to be phased out at some time.
After considerable consultation with our staff and distributors, and much discussion around the family boardroom table, the decision was taken that rather than wait until the last minute and be forced to drop the word Chateau from our label, that with the start of a new millennium, the timing was appropriate to proactively make the change now.
This was no easy decision but was helped by the fact that we would actually be reverting back to our original name 'Tahbilk' that was used when the company was first established back in 1860.
We also questioned the significance of the French word Chateau to a proudly Australian winery or for that matter to Australians in general – we saw no no need to continue to use terms inherited from other countries and cultures of bygone days.
And as for Nagambie Lakes ...
In 1993 the Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation set up a Geographical Indication Committee to identify and redefine viticultural regions throughout Australia, which was opportune as the number of new regions and sub-regions is ever expanding.
It had become increasingly important to determine why our region (to be known now as Nagambie Lakes) produces distinctive premium and super-premium quality red and white table wines, and what it is that sets us apart not only from other Australian wine regions but also other regions around the world.
Two factors were identified which, when combined, gave the Estate a unique position in the world of wine.
Water Mass
We are the only Australian wine region and one of only six worldwide where the meso-climate is dramatically influenced by inland water mass. The effect of the many Lakes and Lagoons (which are linked by the Goulburn River) is a more moderate and cooler than expected climate.
Soil Type
The Nagambie Lakes region has a unique soil type (duplex 2.2) which is only found in one other location in Victoria. The soil is red/sandy loam and is so coloured because of the very high Ferric-oxide content, which has a positive effect on grape quality and adds a certain different regional character to our wines.
And so Nagambie Lakes and Tahbilk were born or reborn!
Alister Purbrick | 4th Generation
