The Story of Cassegrain Wines

Cassegrain Wines was established in 1980 when Gerard and Francoise Cassegrain planted a vineyard near Port Macquarie, on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast, heralding a rebirth of viticulture in the Hastings River district. They believed that the district's temperate maritime climate would be ideally suited to the production of premium tablewines, a belief justified by the awards and accolades that Cassegrain's wines have received since production of the first vintage in 1984.

Their son John, an oenology graduate from South Australia's renowned Roseworthy College and rapidly emerging as one of Australia's most highly regarded winemakers, was ideally suited to taking the helm in a winery which blended the best of Old World tradition with New World technology. He had worked 10 vintages with Tyrrells winery in the Hunter Valley, experienced vintages in Burgundy and the Loire Valley, and had presented a thesis on natural fermentation at California's Davis University.

John's winemaking philosophy is based firmly in the belief that great wines are made in the vineyard and he places enormous emphasis on ensuring that he has access to the highest quality fruit. In the winery his principal aim is to ensure that the characteristic flavours of that premium fruit are maintained and enhanced during the winemaking process and delivered in the bottle to the consumer. His success is amply illustrated by the awards he has gained.

Read more about John in this excerpt from "Confessions of the Winemaker" by Kristin Westlake, Judith Kennedy and Catherine Retter, published in 2004 by Halstead Press.

In early 2001 John and his wife, Eva, in conjunction with three partners, purchased the winery from the family and embarked on a new era for Cassegrain Wines. While they retain a solid commitment to utilising the best available fruit from Hastings River, they are also expanding their horizons by sourcing grapes from other areas. Some of these areas, such as the Hunter Valley and Coonawarra, are well established as among the world's best. Others, especially the New England region, are only just emerging but offer exciting new vistas for wine lovers.