"the Reverend wants a drink"
Bleasdale is the second oldest registered company in South Australia, therefore it has history by the bucket load. Twenty one year old former British sailor Frank Potts, the founder and first winemaker arrived in Adelaide in 1836 aboard HMS Buffalo alongside the State’s first Governor.
The winery is named after Reverend Bleasdale who gave the family a great deal of solace in those tough early days by preaching the virtues of wine.
Frank first learnt shipbuilding as his trade in his new country working with Australian red gum timber which he later used to build the winery. It still has a massive red gum lever wine press which is made from an entire tree. His love of red gum also inspired him to build his own coffin from it, which he used to store apples until he was ready to use it himself.
Frank also built flood gates on the Bremer river next to his vineyard and these 100 year old flood gates are still employed to deliver the rich alluvial silt from the river to the thirsty vines.
Five generations on, the Potts family still own this winery and make all the wines. The wines are indeed rustic and old fashioned but that’s certainly nothing to be embarrassed about.
This wine is their flagship and is named in honour of Great, great Grandfather Frank. We opened this wine after 10 years, OOPs! Cellaring recommendation was only 5-6 years but I think winemaker Michael Potts was erring on this side of conservative caution.
This is a true Bordeaux blend comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet franc. The nose is fruitcake and port. The palate is smooth, with flavours of chocolate and Christmas pudding, and some vanilla from the American oak. It is full bodied, with a tongue kissing texture that finishes with cinnamon and eucalyptus, (maybe it’s red gum).
This wine is good stuff, dressed with a hat (on Frank’s head), and 3 gold medals at the time of purchase in 2001.
Price at the time of purchase was approximately $24.00 , current vintage 2006, retails for around $30.00 . A great example of why it pays for families to maintain hold of a business. The passion and desire to maintain family traditions definitely shines through on their wines and the winery has recently been refurbished complete with a little museum. Well worth a look.
The winery is named after Reverend Bleasdale who gave the family a great deal of solace in those tough early days by preaching the virtues of wine.
Frank first learnt shipbuilding as his trade in his new country working with Australian red gum timber which he later used to build the winery. It still has a massive red gum lever wine press which is made from an entire tree. His love of red gum also inspired him to build his own coffin from it, which he used to store apples until he was ready to use it himself.
Frank also built flood gates on the Bremer river next to his vineyard and these 100 year old flood gates are still employed to deliver the rich alluvial silt from the river to the thirsty vines.
Five generations on, the Potts family still own this winery and make all the wines. The wines are indeed rustic and old fashioned but that’s certainly nothing to be embarrassed about.
This wine is their flagship and is named in honour of Great, great Grandfather Frank. We opened this wine after 10 years, OOPs! Cellaring recommendation was only 5-6 years but I think winemaker Michael Potts was erring on this side of conservative caution.
This is a true Bordeaux blend comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet franc. The nose is fruitcake and port. The palate is smooth, with flavours of chocolate and Christmas pudding, and some vanilla from the American oak. It is full bodied, with a tongue kissing texture that finishes with cinnamon and eucalyptus, (maybe it’s red gum).
This wine is good stuff, dressed with a hat (on Frank’s head), and 3 gold medals at the time of purchase in 2001.
Price at the time of purchase was approximately $24.00 , current vintage 2006, retails for around $30.00 . A great example of why it pays for families to maintain hold of a business. The passion and desire to maintain family traditions definitely shines through on their wines and the winery has recently been refurbished complete with a little museum. Well worth a look.
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