Regional Development after 1970 - Reflections by Dr Tom B Cullity, 2007

Bill Pannell planted his vineyard in 1970 and had conspicuous success with meticulously made red wines thereafter, later selling up and doing the same thing in Pemberton.   His wine confirmed the region's promise.

The Cullens planted their vineyard in the spring of 1972.   Murray Neave and I watched their water-jet method and untilled vine-rows with interest.   It seemed like a good idea.   This was the year that Vasse Felix made an impression at the Perth Royal Show.   It was also the year we had a party with the local neighbours and Club Committee, the Shire Council, Evans the Minister of Agriculture, the Viticulture Section of the W.A. Department of Agriculture, Barry Blaikie the local Member of the Legislative Assembly of W.A., some press, etc. etc. It is impossible to believe that anybody there would not know how Margaret River wine started.   Harold Gladstones and his wife were there (John Gladstones' parents).

The cabernet planting at Vasse Felix by 1979.

I think the Hohnens planted Cape Mentelle in 1972 and struck a mighty blow for Margaret River's fame later when they won the "Jimmy Watson" prize in successive years, at the Melbourne Show.   This made a great impression and a lasting contribution to the area's reputation.

I will not detail the various developments at Vasse Felix thereafter this early period and only regret that for some reason it is impossible to convey in words that period when wine at Margaret River was a desert, and a curious one at that. It was far from easy in those days and difficult to picture the situation now.   There was a lot of pleasure and a broad education to be had.   The Merchants and the Neaves (who left in 1973) were sought as local experts.   There was nobody else.   They had learned from me and I was ignorant and had to learn the hard way by bitter experience.   It was really a question of travelling, listening and reading.   Bill Jamieson of the Department of Agriculture was most helpful.   When it was departmentally inconvenient to foster, at this time, another gestating wine region, he supported this amateur venture in the South West and was generous in giving advice.

Vasse Felix, Cellar Door sales area, late 1970's.

I remember him spending a dreary weekend helping me clean up after one of the managers had left.   The Greggs came into my employment in February 1973 when the venture was barely entering the commercial phase.   They were tireless in developing it, subsequently bought it from me, and have now sold it.   The increasing influence of people who know grapes and wine, competition, national and international interest has stimulated a burgeoning of vineyards and wineries that has been fascinating to see.   The problems now are of a different type and scale but the original experience gives some insight into possible future directions.

Should it be necessary to guess and take a chance the following seem the best calculated risks, and are recorded as personal speculation based on my own experience.

By 1987 there were around 30 vineyards, large and small, in the region.  

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