Collection: MAJELLA WINES

Coonawarra, South Australia

https://www.majellawines.com.au/

The Beginning

The Lynn family have been residents of the Penola - Coonawarra district for over four generations, starting out as store-Keepers and then graduating into grazing. The property on which Majella now stands was originally owned by Frank Lynn, and bought by his nephew, George, in 1960. George and Pat Lynn kept Merino’s for wool production on their farm about ten miles away, and had always wanted some good Coonawarra country for their up-and-coming prime lamb enterprise. Viticulture, however, was not on their agenda until 1968.

The Winery

By late 1995 we realised that Majella needed a Cellar Door Sales and office facility, so Mount Gambier architect Stephen Herbert was charged with the responsibility of coming up with a concept that looked good, was functional and didn't cost an arm and a leg. A barrel shed together with the aforementioned facilities was designed and construction was finished in late 1996.

Our production level soon reached the stage where our own winemaking facilities were warranted, and enough high tech winemaking equipment was installed to keep us poor for years to come! Bruce Gregory joined us as winemaker in January 1999 and produced a crackerjack vintage first up.

What happened to the sheep? Well might you ask! Well they're still there although there's not as much money in wool these days. We still run about 1500 Merino wethers on our other farm south-west of Penola together with 2000 cross-bred ewes for prime lamb production. We also raise about 400 prime lambs here at Coonawarra.