Grant Burge Wines
Timeline
1855
John Burge, his wife, Eliza, and sons, Meshach and Henry, arrive from Wiltshire, England, and settle in the Barossa Valley on 40 acres (16 hectares) of prime farming land west of Lyndoch. He and his sons soon establish a flourishing farm.
1865
Meshach Burge makes his first wines.
1883
Meshach marries Emma Springbett. Together they raise eight children while continuing to develop the family property. Meshach is a community leader, serving on the formative Barossa District Council, helping to build the Lyndoch Holy Trinity Church, and is an influential committee member of the first Angaston Railway Scheme. (Meshach lived to be 99 and was quite active even in his later years.)
1886
Percival Burge, son of Meshach, is born.
1916
Percival “Percy” Burge marries Nell Walker. Percy and Edith Nell Walker take up residence next to the family vineyards, which become the foundation of the yet-to-be-formed “Wilsford” family winery.
1917
Noel Burge, son of Percival, is born; Percy founds Wilsford Winery.
1918
Colin Burge, son of Percival, is born.
1928
Percy makes wine at Wilsford Winery. A dedicated and tireless worker, Percy initially sells his grapes to other wineries, but with the Depression beginning in 1928, he resorts to making his own wine at Wilsford, while still finding time for outside interests. These interests include the local Dramatic Society, the Barossa Literacy Society, the local Agricultural Bureau, the Holy Trinity Anglican Church and the Barossa Grape Growers Association, where he serves as secretary for more than 20 years.
1930-1940
Wilsford Winery continues to prosper, even through the dark days of World War II, when Percy runs the winery and vineyards assisted by “Land Army” women — before Colin returns from service with the South Australian Infantry Forces.
1950s
Several years after the end of the War, Noel returns from Berri Winery and together, Colin and Noel work to significantly develop the Wilsford operations under the watchful eye of Percy.
1951
Grant Burge, son of Colin, is born.
1956
Percy retires at age 70 and moves to the Adelaide seaside suburb of Brighton, where he works as a gardener and green keeper for the Brighton Bowling Club, while playing bowls to the age of 93. In his absence, Colin and Noel continue to produce a quality range of wines at Wilsford, expanding sales and developing a fine name for classic fortified wines.
1970
First planting at Cameron Vale vineyard; Colin and Nancy help Grant plant his first vineyard with their own hands.
1975
Grant purchases land and plants Barossa Valley’s first commercial Merlot vineyard, naming it Hillcot Vineyard after his family’s hometown in Wiltshire, England.
1976
After serving his winemaking apprenticeship under his father Colin at the family’s Wilsford winery, Grant moves to Southern Vales Winery where his desire to make wines of incredible quality is soon rewarded with accolades for his famous 1972 Tatachilla Cabernet Sauvignon.
1976
Winemaker Ian Wilson joins Grant at Southern Vales and together this pair develops a reputation as makers of quality red wines, which win many awards, including the famous Jimmy Watson Trophy, the most sought-after prize at Australian wine shows.
1978
Grant returns to the Barossa Valley and with Ian Wilson buys the small, unfashionable Krondorf Winery; in a relatively short time, they turn it into one of the greatest success stories in Australian winemaking history.
1982
Percival Norman Burge dies at age 96.
1983
Orlando Winery (now Jacob’s Creek) sells the Miamba Vineyard, which Grant purchases at auction; Krondorf Winery has its first public offering.
1985
Grant purchases vineyards (including Lily Farm Vineyard) and retains the entire vineyard staff.
1986
Mildara Blass becomes major shareholder of Krondorf, and Grant and Ian sell remaining ownership to Mildara Blass; Grant purchases the Summers Vineyard in the Eden Valley, located 550 meters above sea level.
1987
Grant’s father Colin and uncle Noel retire from running the family’s properties; Grant retains Wilsford Winery.
1988
Grant Burge Wines founded by Grant and Helen Burge.
1988
Historic, award-winning tourist center Moorooroo Cellars opens.
1989
Grant purchases the Filsell Vineyard from Richard and Valerie Filsell. Fillsell’s near-century-old Shiraz vines produce dry reds with enormous intensity of flavor and form the basis for Grant’s flagship wine, Meshach, named after his great-grandfather, Meshach William Burge.
1991
Inaugural 1988 award-winning Meshach launches.
1993
Grant Burge Wines buys Illaparra Winery for production base.
1993
Grant Burge Wines wins Vogue Australia Winery of the Year.
1994
Grant purchases The Holy Trinity Vineyard and Daly Road properties from the Kies family.
1995
Grant purchases the historic Chaff Mill, which is one of the last properties in the Barossa to produce chaff, or feed, for horses. The vineyard is planted with old-vine Shiraz and Grenache.
1998
Grant purchases the historic Corryton Park Homestead and 400 acres dating back to the original settlement of the Barossa in the 1850s.
1999
Grant Burge buys back the Krondorf Winery, renames it Barossa Vines and starts production of whites wines at this facility during the 2000 vintage.
2000
Grant Burge Wines buys Corryton Park and planting of late-ripening, cool-climate varieties begins.
2001
Grant purchases the Rocla Vineyard, planted to Shiraz and Grenache in 1890.
2004
Grant Burge is awarded a trophy and Fortified Winemaker of the Year by Decanter.
2005
Grant Burge celebrates 150 years of family heritage in the Barossa.
2005
Grant Burge Meshach receives its first Langton’s Classification (“Outstanding”) for the previous 10 vintages.
