The Crawford River winery and vineyard (in the Henty wine region of
south-west Victoria) was originally a sheep and cattle station settled by John
Thomson’s great grandfather in 1884. The estate has remained in the family and
is now run by John and Catherine Thomson.
John and Catherine originally planted their vineyard on the Crawford River
Estate in 1975 and today produce key varieties such as Riesling and Cabernet
Sauvignon. There are also smaller plantings of other varieties such as Cabernet
Franc, Merlot, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
John Thomson is the winemaker, now working in conjunction with his eldest
daughter, Belinda who returned from Europe in 2004. Belinda has completed
studies in Oenology and Viticulture and has worked several vintage in Europe,
currently splitting her time between home and Spain. Younger daughter, Fiona
Thomson also joined the family operation last year and takes care of wholesale
sales and distribution in Victoria and South Australia.
Crawford River’s Riesling has been included in the Distinguished category of
Langton’s latest Classification of Australian Wine V. The 2010 wine (released
last month) features delicate aromas of honeysuckle and apple blossom, which are
infused with chalky minerality. The palate is pure, displaying texture, elegance
and sweet fruit flavours underpinned with stony, chalky minerality and fresh,
natural acidity.
"This is from a family winery in Henty in far west
Victoria with an impressive history, largely because of the quality of its
riesling. The winemaking and viticulture are in the hands of father and
daughter, John and Belinda Thomson. There's an 11.5 hectare vineyard with
riesling vines (among others) planted 35 years ago and a new block of
10-year-old vines from which this wine is sourced. It is bright, fresh and pure,
with intense lemon and lime citrus flavours, is tight, lean and focused, neatly
balanced, finishing crisp and tangy"- Peter Forrestal, Gourmet Traveller
Wine Magazine, June/ July 2011.
"Crawford River Riesling has
emerged as one of Australia’s great aromatic wines. With its fresh, intense
lemon tonic, pear, apple and oyster-shell aromas, superb lemon-curd richness,
persistence and minerality, it reflects the modern idiom of the riesling style.
Sommeliers across Australia have lionised this wine for its elegance and
enjoyment with food."- Andrew Caillard, Gourmet Traveller WINE,
August/September 2010.