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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-15 Daily Xml
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D'ARENBERG WINERY

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (15:30): I rise today to pay tribute to the d'Arenberg winery as they celebrate their centenary this year. To mark the occasion, on 2 February, we had a wonderful dinner down at the winery. I was delighted to be invited, along with so many people from the McLaren Vale region. It was a very generous display of hospitality and a wonderful celebration of 100 years from one of the most respected wine families in Australia and, indeed, the world.

d'Arry Osborn, who is in his mid-80s now, was there and he was co-hosting it with his colourful son, Chester, and what a wonderful night it was. They sledged each other from speech to speech in a way that was just full of affection for each other but also in that great larrikin character that they both share and are both so famous for.

They invited their distributors from around Australia and, indeed, around the world and some of the finest wine writers as well, from around the world and also from around Australia. It was a real privilege to be there among these people, but it was also nice that they had invited so many of their neighbours. In many wine and agricultural regions, we know there is division amongst different families and different companies who see people down the road as perhaps competitors.

The thing I love about McLaren Vale, Willunga and that region is that we are all in it together. If someone down the road does well then the region has done well and people are quick to heap praise on their neighbour and invite them to celebrations. They are also there for them in the tough times as well and they really stick up for each other.

Frank Osborn arrived in McLaren Vale in 1912—that is d'Arry's father—and bought an existing vineyard. The family has gone on now into the fourth generation of not only looking after that vineyard but, under the stewardship of d'Arry and now Chester as well—Chester has been the senior winemaker at d'Arenberg wines since 1984—they have taken a South Australian brand, made it a national brand and, indeed, one of the truly great international brands.

I have been to restaurants in Moscow, Delhi, across Europe, across the United States and, if there is to be an Australian wine found on the wine list, more often than not it will be a d'Arenberg wine, and that is testament to the fact that d'Arry and Chester, even with d'Arry in his mid-80s, get on planes and do the hard slog. They travel around the world. They are loved by people who they share their wines and their story with and that can only endear them to people who then have to put in orders to buy wine from wherever it is around the world. So, it is not surprising that we see d'Arenberg on so many wine lists.

They are distributing into more than 80 countries now, which is a huge achievement for what is a family company. They also have more than 60 wine labels, and Chester is the marketing genius behind that. He comes up with some very colourful names and he is indeed a colourful character who likes to wear colourful shirts. But behind the display of fun and frivolity lies a very serious and a very professional operator who has done so well. It is a pleasure to know both d'Arry and Chester and to call them friends because they are terrific locals and they are also terrific on that international stage.

Also, d'Arry's sister, Toni, was there on the night and it was wonderful to meet her. I was disappointed that d'Arry's brother, Rowen Osborn, could not be there. He was in Canberra. Rowen did not get involved in the wine industry. He was a career diplomat for Australia. After finishing his education at Prince Alfred College, he travelled the world in many senior positions.

It was a pity Rowen was not there, but he combined with Fay Woodhouse to write an outstanding book called The Story Behind the Stripe. Of course, d'Arenberg wines are famous for the red stripe across the white label. It is an outstanding book and I encourage everyone to read that to find out for themselves the history of d'Arenberg's 100 years.

The following day was the celebration of the ringing of the bell to signal the start of vintage for 2012. There were far fewer people there than usual, and I would say that I left the celebrations at about midnight, but I know Chester was having an after party and he went to bed at 6:30. I know a lot of the locals kicked on a little bit at Chester's after party and I want to wish everyone at d'Arenberg all the best for this year. I want to wish everyone in McLaren Vale all the very best for a fantastic vintage, and let us hope the weather does the right thing.

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