Case Studies
Issue No. 23 - June/Nuly 2005
Classic McLaren Wines
classic tale
You have a tract of land that borders your busy quarry operation. You want to put it to economic and environmentally rehabilitative use. What do you do?
If you’re in McLaren Vale, you plant grapes.
That operational catechism confronted McLaren Vale Quarries, a part of building conglomerate MSP Group, during the mid 1990s. A substantial parcel of land surrounding the quarry operation was under-utilised and offered limited usage potential. MSP formed a corporate entity a decade ago to handle grape growing operations. That beginning evolved into an enterprise to make and market the 56 hectare block’s product.
Classic McLaren Wines looks somewhat out-of- place alongside MSP’s other companies, but its development has been typically thorough. MSP took local advice on vineyard establishment, varieties and viticulture, calling in noted expertise to ensure an efficient result. “They knew the grapes would be high quality, but they proved even better than expected,” says Classic McLaren Wines’ sales and marketing manager, Brian Miller.
A state-of-the-art winery now stands proudly on Coppermine Road, at the crest of a hill overlooking McLaren Vale. To make the wine is the outspoken Tony De Lisio, whose strong personality has contributed to building the brand, particularly in the USA.
Tony, a noted grapegrower, had consulted to MSP and when the De Lisio family sold their Clarendon vineyard. Tony assumed responsibility for planning and planting what is now the impressive Classic McLaren vineyard.
The land skirting the southern McLaren Vale Quarry is typical of the area, rolling terrain of loamy clay over calceous limestone and rock. Planted to red varieties chiefly, vineyard arrangement sought to give each grape variety the best possible micro-environment.
Tony took charge of winemaking when the first crop came off in 1997, from the outset making two ranges, the flagship ‘La Testa’ and the premium R...
